The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is preparing to amend its statute to make senior leader Balen Shah the leader of its parliamentary party after the party declared him its prime ministerial candidate in the recent House of Representatives election.
RSP secured 182 seats in the election, falling just two seats short of the two-thirds majority required in parliament.
Party Reviewing Statute Provisions
RSP co-spokesperson Pratibha Rawal said the party will review provisions in its statute and make necessary changes to formally appoint Shah as the parliamentary party leader.
Speaking to Rawal said the party had entered the election after announcing Shah as its prime ministerial candidate and therefore considers him the natural leader of the parliamentary party.
She said the party will examine which provisions of the statute need to be revised. The party’s statute includes provisions for selecting the parliamentary party leader under Article 66.
Clause 66 (8)(a) states that candidates selected by the party for the federal election under both the direct and proportional representation systems can contest an internal election to become the parliamentary party leader.
Clause 66 (8)(b) states that all ordinary party members are eligible to vote in that election. Party leaders say these provisions may be amended as the party had already declared its prime ministerial candidate before the election.
Amendment Discussions Continue
Rawal said discussions on the exact form of the amendment have not yet been finalized. She said the party had previously followed similar practices and will hold discussions on arrangements needed to facilitate parliamentary leadership.
Meanwhile, RSP has begun preparations to select candidates under the proportional representation system. However, internal meetings have been delayed as party chairperson Ravi Lamichhane has been recovering at home after falling ill in recent days.
Party leaders said Lamichhane and Balen Shah have been holding informal discussions regarding the selection of proportional candidates.
RSP Wins 182 Seats
In the House of Representatives election held on Falgun 21, RSP won 182 seats, just two seats short of a two-thirds majority. The party secured 125 seats under the direct election system and 57 seats through proportional representation.
