Kathmandu — CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the scale of publicity generated by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) on social media has not translated into comparable influence on the ground during the election campaign.
Social Media Publicity and Ground Reality
Speaking at a party training programme in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Dahal said that public support for the RSP has weakened in constituencies where it had previously secured victories. He alleged that the party is now attempting to expand its influence by creating confusion in new areas.
“The publicity created through social media is not reflected in the field,” Dahal said. “We have described it as a social media stunt. In places where they won earlier, their support is declining. Even in the Kathmandu Valley, their actual presence does not match what is projected online.”
Dahal said it is easier to influence voters in areas where people have not closely assessed the performance of political leaders. “In places where people have had the opportunity to evaluate what leaders have done and what they have failed to do, such tactics are understood as mere rhetoric,” he said.
“But in areas where people have not yet been able to make that assessment, the impact of such messaging is visible.” He added that this influence must be countered through reasoned debate and factual rebuttal.
Call for War-Footing Mobilisation
Describing the current political situation as both a challenge and an opportunity, Dahal instructed party leaders and cadres to mobilize intensively in the remaining days before the election. He urged them to return to their respective constituencies and work closely with candidates to secure victory for the party.
On the issue of internal role distribution, Dahal said this would be addressed after the election. “If we work at a war footing for the next 23 days, there is a strong possibility that our party can emerge as the leading force,” he said. “This is not the time to debate assignments.
Everyone’s responsibility is clear—go to your constituency, coordinate with the candidate, stay connected with the party, and engage directly in the field. At this moment, there can be no better division of work. Once the election is over, we will review everything in detail.”
