Sachin Dhakal, president of FC Chitwan, has withdrawn his name from the proportional representation candidate list of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Dhakal made the announcement on Saturday through a Facebook post, stating that he had decided to step back from the party’s proportional representation candidacy for this election cycle.
He is the son of Chandra Dhakal, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and chairperson of IME Group. Dhakal had been placed second in the Khas Arya male cluster on RSP’s proportional representation list.
In his statement, Dhakal said his decision was guided by respect for the spirit and principles of the proportional electoral system as provided for in Nepal’s Constitution. He cited personal reasons for withdrawing his candidacy at this time.
“Respecting the essence and values of the proportional representation system enshrined in the Constitution of Nepal, I would like to inform that I have decided to withdraw my name from the list this time due to personal reasons,” he wrote.
Dhakal clarified that his withdrawal does not signal disengagement from public life. He reaffirmed his continued commitment to the broader campaign of building a prosperous Nepal through good governance and collective youth leadership. He also said he remains prepared to take on political responsibility in the future if required in the interest of the nation and society.
On the same day, film producer Aasif Shah also announced his withdrawal from the RSP proportional representation candidate list. Earlier, singer Trishala Gurung had likewise declared her decision to withdraw her candidacy.
RSP’s proportional representation list has been a subject of internal debate and dissatisfaction within the party, with concerns raised over the inclusion of certain candidates. The recent withdrawals have further underscored the internal discussions surrounding the list.
