An all-party meeting called by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair Rabi Lamichhane is set to go ahead in Kathmandu on Monday, but without the participation of several of the country’s most prominent political leaders.
The meeting, scheduled for 9 am at the Public Accounts Committee hall in Singha Durbar, was announced as a platform for discussions on the current political situation, the functioning of Parliament and broader issues of national concern. Political parties represented in both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly had been requested to send their chairperson or president along with one additional representative.
That level of participation will not materialize.
CPN leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will not attend due to health reasons. Prachanda, who recently returned home after receiving treatment for pneumonia, is currently resting on medical advice, according to his secretariat. The party will instead be represented by co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal and senior leader Barshaman Pun.
The absence of senior leaders from major parties has shifted attention to who will represent them and how seriously the initiative is being viewed across the political spectrum. Even so, parties have chosen not to boycott the meeting, indicating a willingness to keep channels of dialogue open.
Congress and UML Send Representatives
Nepali Congress president Gagan Kumar Thapa will also skip the meeting. The party has decided to send parliamentary party leader Bhishmaraj Angdembe as its representative. Lawmaker Firdosh Alam is also expected to participate on behalf of the Congress.
From CPN-UML, Chief Whip Ain Bahadur Mahar is preparing to attend and present the party’s position during the discussions.
Other parliamentary parties are likewise expected to participate through designated representatives rather than their top leadership.
Focus on Parliament and National Issues
RSP says the gathering has been convened to encourage dialogue among political parties at a time when questions surrounding parliamentary effectiveness and political cooperation have become increasingly prominent.
Lamichhane initiated the meeting shortly after returning from a visit to India. The party has said discussions will focus on current political developments, the role of Parliament and issues carrying wider national significance.
The meeting comes at a time when political alignments continue to evolve and parties face growing pressure to demonstrate cooperation on matters that extend beyond day-to-day partisan disputes. Whether the discussions produce any common position remains uncertain, but the turnout of party representatives suggests that no major force wants to be seen entirely absent from the conversation.
