The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has begun a new phase of its organizational expansion by launching its first provincial convention in Bagmati Province, moving the party’s internal restructuring process beyond local and district levels and into provincial leadership contests.
The convention is being held at Himalayan Darbar in Hetauda, where party president **Rabi Lamichhane** is scheduled to inaugurate the gathering. The party says similar conventions will be rolled out across other provinces in the coming weeks as it prepares for a broader organizational overhaul.
For a party that rose rapidly onto the national political stage, the provincial conventions are being viewed not only as an internal exercise but also as a measure of how leadership ambitions and organizational influence are evolving within the party.
Leadership Contest Takes Shape
The race for the post of Bagmati Province chair is expected to draw significant attention.
Incumbent provincial chair Dr. Achyuttam Lamichhane, who has led the organization since its early days, is seeking another term. Challenging him is provincial spokesperson Utsav Aryal, who has been positioning himself as the face of a new leadership team.
Both sides have been preparing their panels ahead of the vote, setting the stage for what party members expect to be one of the most closely watched contests of the convention.
The province is regarded as a key organizational base for the party, making the outcome important for future internal power dynamics as well as the party’s next phase of expansion.
Discussion has also intensified around other senior positions.
Among those being mentioned for vice-chair are Dr. Ramesh Dhakal and Menuka Thakuri. Current General Secretary Surendra Bhatt has expressed interest in continuing in the same role.
65-Member Provincial Committee
Under the party statute, the Bagmati Provincial Working Committee will consist of 65 members.
- One Chairperson
- One Vice-Chairperson
- One General Secretary
- Two Joint General Secretaries representing different genders
- A team of office-bearers including a Treasurer and Spokesperson
If voting becomes necessary, the election will be conducted in two stages. The first round will elect the provincial chair and committee members. A second round will then be held among the elected members to choose the remaining office-bearers.
National Convention Next
RSP has described the provincial conventions as a crucial step in strengthening its organizational structure. Once the provincial process is completed, the party plans to hold its first national convention in Chitwan on June 20 and 21.
The Bagmati convention is therefore being watched as an early indicator of how the party’s next generation of leaders may emerge and how internal alignments could shape the organization ahead of its landmark national gathering.
