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Rastriya Swatantra Party

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The Rastriya Swatantra Party (Nepali: राष्ट्रिय स्वतन्त्र पार्टी, abbr. RSP; transl. National Independent Party, abbr. NIP) is a centrist[3] political party in Nepal.[4] The party was running as a coalition partner in Prachanda-led government with four cabinet ministries from 6 March 2024 to 12 July 2024.[5][6]

Rastriya Swatantra Party
राष्ट्रिय स्वतन्त्र पार्टी
LeaderRabi Lamichhane
PresidentRabi Lamichhane
SecretarySumana Shrestha
General SecretaryMukul Dhakal (July 2022- July 2024)
Kabindra Burlakoti (July 2024 - Present) Acting
SpokespersonManish Jha
Vice-PresidentDol Prasad Aryal
Swarnim Wagle
Chief WhipSantosh Pariyar
FoundedJuly 1, 2022 (2022-07-01)
HeadquartersChamati, Banasthali 16, Kathmandu
IdeologyPopulism[1]
Economic liberalism
Political positionCentre[2][verification needed]
Colours 
Sloganअब जान्नेलाई छान्ने ("Now Let's pick the knowledgeable ones")
ECN StatusNational Party (4th largest)
Seats in Pratinidhi Sabha
21 / 275
Seats in Rastriya Sabha
0 / 59
Mayors/Chairs
0 / 753
Election symbol
Website
rspnepal.org

Previously, it remained as a junior ally in Prachanda-led government from 26 December 2022 until 5 February 2023.[7][8] The party was announced by Rabi Lamichhane in June 2022[9] and registered with the Election Commission of Nepal on 1 July 2022, ahead of the 2022 Nepalese general election.[10][11] The RSP is currently the fourth-largest national party in Nepal following the 2022 election.

History

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On 16 June 2022, Rabi Lamichhane resigned as managing director of Galaxy 4K television and announced that he would be contesting in the 2022 general elections for a seat at the House of Representatives.[12] On 21 June 2022, he announced the formation of Rastriya Swatantra Party along with a 21-member central committee.[9][13] The party was formally registered in the Election Commission on 1 July 2022 with Rabi Lamichhane as the founding president and a bell inside a circle as its election symbol.[14]

The party fielded FPTP candidates in 131 constituencies and submitted a closed list of prospective 107 PR lawmakers for seats of House of Representatives amidst the 2022 general elections. The party did not field any candidates for provincial assemblies. The party selected candidates through primary elections.[15] While the party emerged as the fourth-largest party in the House of Representatives, it secured victory in seven constituencies of which four were in Kathmandu, one in Lalitpur and two in Chitwan.[16] It received 10.70% of the party list vote and became one of the seven national parties in the Federal Parliament.[17] The party was allotted with 13 seats through the proportional representation system, bringing their total parliamentary strength in the House of Representatives to 20.[17][18]

Organization

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The party had announced that it would have no sister organizations and only have members, not cadres. It had also announced that primary elections would be held to select candidates for elections from the party.[13][9]

Ideology

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The party supports constitutional socialism, participatory democracy, economic liberalism[3] and political freedom.[19] The party has been described as centrist[4][20] by different members within the party.[21][22]

Ministry Responsible

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Under Dahal Cabinet

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From 6 March 2024 to 12 July 2024

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Dahal III
S.N Minister Role Assumed office Left office Tenure
1. Rabi Lamichhane Ministry of Home Affairs,Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal 6 March 2024 12 July 2024 128 days
2. Sumana Shrestha Ministry of Education, Science and Technology 6 March 2024 12 July 2024 128 days
3. Dol Prasad Aryal Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security 6 March 2024 12 July 2024 128 days
4. Biraj Bhakta Shrestha Ministry of Youth and Sports 6 March 2024 12 July 2024 128 days

From 17 January 2023 to 5 February 2023

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Dahal III
S.N Minister Role Assumed Office Left Office Tenure Successor
1. Dol Prasad Aryal Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security 17 January 2023 5 February 2023 19 days Sharat Singh Bhandari
2. Shishir Khanal Ministry of Education, Science and Technology 17 January 2023 5 February 2023 19 days Ashok Rai
3. Toshima Karki State Ministry of Health and Population 17 January 2023 5 February 2023 19 days Pushpa Kamal Dahal not allocated to anyone

Policy platform

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Natural Order of the Economy

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The party endorses a "capitalistic" economy policy with individual rights. Industrial and commercial activities are off-limits to the government, which cannot interfere with economic relations between individuals, groups, classes, or entire nations. The party supports the idea that economic freedom will drive the economy to the prosperity and so does the planning and interference by the government disrupt the economy and have adverse effects.[23][24][25][26]

Electoral reform

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It also supports the introduction of recall elections, the right to reject and a provision for absentee ballots. The party also supports a directly elected prime minister and directly elected chief ministers for the seven provinces of Nepal.[9][13][27]

The party in its manifesto for the 2022 elections also supported the idea of a non-partisan president elected by an expanded electoral college which would incorporate elected representatives from ward chairs to federal lawmakers and also touted the idea of the chairman of the National Assembly acting as the de facto vice-president.[28] The party also seeks to end political appointments in constitutional bodies and has called for the Constitutional Council to be scrapped and for appointments to constitutional bodies be recommended by the National Assembly and confirmed by the House of Representatives instead. The party has also called for the dissolution of provincial assemblies, district co-ordination committees and has stood in favour of a provincial council which would be elected by the heads of local governments in the province. The party chair Rabi Lamichhane did not cast his vote at the 2022 provincial elections.[29][30]

Economic and social welfare

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The party sees the private sector, co-operatives and the public sector as the three pillars of the economy. The party favors competition and seeks to establish a growing role of the private sector as an alternative to the public sector in order to deliver services to the people and for economic growth. The party wants to end income tax for people in the lowest octile of earners in the country. The party also seeks to establish food banks in every ward in the country and to guarantee nutrition assistance for people living under the poverty line by issuing them ration cards. The party also seeks to expand the current social welfare system and to include private insurance companies in the social welfare system.[31]

Healthcare

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The party supports the establishment of a single-payer healthcare system and the establishment of at least one laboratory and a 750-bed hospital in each of the seven provinces, a 50 to 100-bed hospital in each of the 77 districts, a 6 to 25-bed hospital in each local unit and a clinic in each ward in the country. The party also wants to establish a centralized national ambulance service, health and quality assurance accreditation board, a food and drug department, a central disease board and a health innovation & development board. The party also wants to create a health workers act for public healthcare workers.[31]

Corruption

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The party seeks to crackdown on corruption by introducing a Whistleblower Protection Act to protect whistleblowers and by establishing an Anti-Corruption Police under the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority.[31]

Women and sexual minorities

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The party has also called for the establishment of shelters for victims of abuse and the creation of a fund to help victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and acid attack victims. The party also seeks to promote entrepreneurship among women and sexual minorities by establishing funds for businesses where at least sixty percent of the shareholders or employees are female or of a sexual minority group.[31]

Electoral performance

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2022 general election

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The party nominated 131 candidates for the First Past the Post seats for the 2022 Nepalese general election.[32]

Election Leader Constituency votes Party list votes Seats Position Resulting government
No. % No. %
2022 Rabi Lamichhane 815,023 7.77 1,130,344 10.70
21 / 275
 4th Confidence and Supply

Leadership

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Party Chairman

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Deputy Chairman

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Joint Secretary

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Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Party

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Chief Whip

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General secretary

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  • Mukul Dhakal (July 2024 - Present)[11][34]
  • Kabindra Burlakoti (Acting July 2024–present)[35][36]

Spokesperson

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List of Deputy Prime Ministers

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No. Deputy PM Portrait Term in office Assembly Constituency Prime Minister
Start End Tenure
1 Rabi Lamichhane
 
 26 December 2022 27 January 2023 32 days 2nd Federal Parliament of Nepal Chitwan 2 Pushpa Kamal Dahal

List of Member of Parliament

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Pratinidhi Shabha

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This list of order of the MPs is based on the holding of power within the party and ministry level and length of presence in the meeting of house of representatives.

No. MPs Portrait Assumed Office End Office Tenure Preceded by Constituency
1. Rabi Lamichhane
 
 1 July 2022 27 January 2023 210 days Position Created Chitwan 2
29 January 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 293 days Dol Prasad Aryal
2. Swarnim Wagle
 
 28 April 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 203 days Ram Chandra Poudel Tanahun 1
3. Sumana Shrestha
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days - elected as a proportional representative
4. Dol Prasad Aryal
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days
5. Biraj Bhakta Shrestha
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days Jeevan Ram Shrestha Kathmandu 8
6. Toshima Karki
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days Pampha Bhusal Lalitpur 3
7. Hari Dhakal
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days Surendra Pandey Chitwan 1
8. Shishir Khanal
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days Bhimsen Das Pradhan Kathmandu 6
9. Sobita Gautam
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days Madhav Kumar Nepal Kathmandu 2
10. Ganesh Parajuli
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days Rambir Manandhar Kathmandu 7
11. Manish Jha
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days - elected as a proportional representative
12. Santosh Pariyar
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days
13. Indira Ranamagar
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days
14. Chanda Karki
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days
15. Nisha Dangi
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days
16. Asim Shah
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days
17. Shiva Nepali
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 Year, 85 days
18. Ashok Kumar Chaudhary
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 Year, 85 days
19. Binita Kathayat 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 Year, 85 days
20. Laxmi Tiwari
 
 22 December 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 331 days
21. Bindabasini Kansakar 22 December 2022 Incumbent 313 days Dhaka Kumar Shrestha

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Khatiwada, Nishan. "One year young: Calls for clarity in RSP's political vision". Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  2. ^ "Rastriya Swatantra Party Manifesto". Rastriya Swatantra Party. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  3. ^ a b "Rastriya Swatantra Party adopts 'pluralistic democracy' as its guiding principle". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  4. ^ a b "Rastriya Swatantra Party Manifesto". Rastriya Swatantra Party. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  5. ^ "Rastriya Swatantra Party to continue its support to government". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  6. ^ "RSP to get four ministries including Home Ministry". Setopati. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  7. ^ "Lamichhane to lead RSP in Dahal-led govt". My Republica. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  8. ^ "Rastriya Swatantra Party decides to quit govt". The Himalayan Times. 5 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  9. ^ a b c d "Rabi Lamichhane announces National Independent Party". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  10. ^ diwakar (2022-10-23). "Rastriya Swatantra Party to elect parliamentary party leader before general elections". OnlineKhabar English News. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  11. ^ a b c "Ravi Lamichhane's National Independent Party registered at EC". My Republica. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  12. ^ "Rabi Lamichhane exits TV to enter politics". OnlineKhabar. 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  13. ^ a b c "Journalist Rabi Lamichhane announces new political party". The Himalayan Times. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  14. ^ "यी हुन् रवि लामिछानेको पार्टीका २१ केन्द्रीय सदस्य". Setopati (in Nepali). Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  15. ^ "Rastriya Swatantra Party drawing public attention ahead of polls". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  16. ^ "Swatantra Party district chief accused of helping Nepali Congress candidate". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  17. ^ a b "प्रतिनिधिसभामा १२ दल, राष्ट्रिय पार्टी ७ मात्रै". ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  18. ^ "Rastriya Swatantra Party picks 13 proportional representation lawmakers". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  19. ^ "वाचा पत्र". rspnepal.org. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  20. ^ "How serious is the Rastriya Prajatantra Party about promoting youth leaders and meritocracy?". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  21. ^ "स्वतन्त्र पार्टीमा दुई धार : दायाँ जाने कि बायाँ ?". Online Khabar (in Nepali). Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  22. ^ अब आश्वासन बिक्दैन, मतदाता जागरुक भइसके| Gbate With Nava Raj Pandey | Sishir Khanal | EP-178. Galaxy 4K. 2022-11-27.
  23. ^ "Swatantra Party leaders seek rewrite of political paper". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  24. ^ Pokharel, Jiba Raj (2023-02-07). "Ministerial responsibility versus party ideology: Need to maintain decorum". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  25. ^ "Can the Swatantra Party answer the bell?". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  26. ^ "Opinion | Rightist tilt in Nepal". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  27. ^ "राष्ट्रिय स्वतन्त्र पार्टी निर्वाचन आयोगमा दर्ता, चुनाव चिह्न - 'गोलाकारभित्र घण्टी'". ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  28. ^ "Rastriya Swatantra Party proposes directly-elected prime minister". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  29. ^ Karki, Shristi (9 December 2022). "Seats of power". Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  30. ^ "Swatantra Party unveils election manifesto". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  31. ^ a b c d "Rastriya Swatantra Party - RSP". Rastriya Swatantra Party - RSP. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  32. ^ "प्रतिनिधिसभा-उम्मेदवार-अन्तिम-सूची.PDF".
  33. ^ a b c d e f "RSP - Rastriya Swatantra Party". rspnepal.org. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  34. ^ Republica. "Mukul Dhakal appeals against RSP's decision to remove him from general secretary". My Republica. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  35. ^ "In an escalation, RSP suspends Dhakal as general secretary". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  36. ^ "RSP General Secretary Dhakal suspended". The Annapurna Express (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-09-15.
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