Secretary General Dhakal fears RSP is heading for an accident

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) General Secretary Mukul Dhakal claimed in his policy document, which he prepared after an inspection tour of 32 districts, that the party is heading for a crash.

In his political report, Dhakal has pointed out things that the two-year-old party needs to correct to avert such an accident.

After handing over the 32-page report to party chairman Rabi Lamichhane on Wednesday, Dhakal told the Post: “After the inspection tour, I have come to the conclusion that if the party continues as before, it will collapse within a short period of time.”

The report, submitted to Dhakal Lamichhane, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, claims that the popularity of the party, which won 20 seats in the 2022 elections, has dropped sharply. Moreover, the report claims that Lamichhane’s popularity has also dropped.

Dhakal demanded that the party publish its report.

However, an RSP chairman, who is also a federal MP, believes that since the report concerns internal party matters, it should have been discussed first in the RSP secretariat.

“General Secretary Dhakal made a mistake by going to the media before discussing the matter in the party,” the party chief told the Post on condition of anonymity. “Why Dhakal went to the media is a strange question.”

Dhakal, however, replied that as general secretary, he was appearing before the media for the first time since the party was founded two years ago.

“You should understand why the party is being criticised from various quarters today,” Dhakal told the Post. “The party is facing ruin because someone spoke such nonsense. I did not do that.”

Dhakal’s obvious target was party leader Lamichhane, who is often criticised for his unnecessary comments and promises.

Although the general secretary submitted a report based on his observations during the inspection tour, the findings would only be implemented after the party secretariat meeting, said Kabindra Burlakoti, chairman of the organizing committee and deputy general secretary of the party.

“The secretary general personally prepared and submitted the report. No other party leaders were involved in its preparation,” Burlakoti told the Post. “The report may not be implemented as it is and the party secretariat may change it.”

Shortly after the debacle in the by-election in April this year, the party secretariat decided on May 3 to launch a nationwide campaign tour led by a team led by Dhakal.

The RSP had won another seat in the House in last year’s by-elections. But this year, the party’s candidate in Ilam-2 did not get enough votes and even lost the deposit. RSP candidate Milan Limbu came fourth, while independent candidate Dikendra Singh Limbu received the third most votes in the constituency.

Dhakal began the trip on May 19 with the aim of identifying the party’s strengths and weaknesses in terms of its policies, decisions and organizational structure.

While leaving Dhakal, Lamichhane expressed his belief that the suggestions and insights gathered during the tour would strengthen the party.

The party, which won two of three by-election seats in Chitwan-2 and Tanahun-1 last year, was optimistic of giving a tough fight to rivals in Ilam-2 in April. Speaking to the Post, party leaders involved in the campaign expressed confidence that they would do well.

During the campaign for the 2022 elections, RSP leaders, especially its chairman Lamichhane, strongly criticized the leaders of the traditional parties and called on voters to remove them from power.

However, the RSP leaders were then accused of colluding with the same old parties and their leaders, especially the UML. Moreover, the party lost its sheen when Lamichhane got involved in various scams, the latest being the channelling of the cooperative’s money to Gorkha Media Network, which led to its poor performance in Ilam-2.

During the election campaign in Ilam-2, Lamichhane was also questioned about a conflict of interest as his ministry commanded the police investigating such scams. The RSP joined the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government on March 4. RSP leader Lamichhane was able to win back the Home Ministry through tough negotiations. Some saw Lamichhane’s insistence on the Home Ministry as an attempt to influence the investigation into the cooperative scam.

General Secretary Dhakal claims that the party’s popularity has suffered not only because of the cooperative scam but also because of the party leadership’s unfulfilled promises to the voters.

Before joining the government on March 4, RSP leaders discussed in detail the “Mission 2084,” which aims to make the RSP the strongest force in the next general election. Observers said the party joined the government despite its inability to keep its promises to the people.

Santosh Pariyar, leader of the party’s parliamentary group in the federal parliament, said he was not fully aware of the report submitted by the party’s general secretary.

“I cannot comment on the report without going through it,” Pariyar told the Post. “We cannot say anything concrete until the report is officially presented at the party secretariat meeting.”

However, party insiders claim that the report criticizes the party leadership’s quest for power without paying much attention to the RSP’s original agenda.

Another party leader, who also wished to remain anonymous, said the report suggested the party should have allied itself with politicians such as Balendra Shah, the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, instead of joining forces with traditional forces such as the UML and the Maoist Centre.

It is believed that Shah is quietly laying the groundwork for the establishment of his own political party, hoping to exploit popular anger against traditional forces to his advantage.

Dhakal also acknowledged that he wanted the party to communicate better with Mayor Shah. The RSP should explore the possibilities of working with him, even if the party does not approve of all of his recent activities, Dhakal told the Post.

“First of all, the RSP should work with Shah on an agenda like eviction of illegally occupied land in slum areas,” Dhakal said. “By the end of 2083 BS (a year before the 2027 elections), the party should also consider an alliance with Shah.”

Despite its participation in the government, some RSP ministers and party leaders have expressed their dissatisfaction. Youth and Sports Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha said at an event a few weeks ago that it was time to review the party’s participation in the government and its support for the coalition.

Shrestha even warned the party leaders against quitting the government.

Claiming that they constantly carry resignation letters with them, Shrestha said, “As soon as we start getting frustrated, we will submit our resignation.”