Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has seen internal discussion over its candidate selection process, with senior leaders calling for reflection and reform. Party Co–General Secretary Bipin Acharya said the method used to select candidates for the current election should remain a one-time exception.
Speaking after registering his candidacy from Dang–2, Acharya said the party must move forward through formal procedures and internal rules. He stressed that future candidate selection should be conducted through structured mechanisms, including leadership academies, political proximity assessments, and primary elections.
Call for Structured Candidate Selection Process
“Due to various practical reasons, the party was unable to select candidates strictly under its established framework this time,” Acharya said. “This election should be remembered as the first and last instance in which candidates were chosen without leadership academy evaluation, political proximity assessment, or primary elections.”
Acharya noted that under Nepal’s first-past-the-post electoral system, a party can nominate only 165 candidates nationwide, regardless of how many individuals express interest. “No matter how many aspirations there are, the party can ultimately nominate only 165 candidates,” he said.
He also acknowledged that mistakes may have occurred during the process and said the party leadership would learn from them. “If there have been errors at any level, the party will certainly take lessons from them,” Acharya said, adding that such shortcomings would not be repeated in the future.
Party Unity Emphasized Ahead of Elections
According to Acharya, the immediate priority for the party is unity. “At this moment, the only necessity is to stand together and move forward into the election as a united force,” he said.
The RSP had suspended its primary election process for the current electoral cycle. The responsibility of recommending candidates was assigned to a committee led by Vice-Chair Swarnim Wagle, who previously said party Chair Rabi Lamichhane was granted veto authority in the final selection of candidates.
Observers say the discussion reflects a broader debate within the party over internal democracy and institutional development.
