Kathmandu, December 28
An agreement has been reached between the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) to unify. A seven-point agreement was signed between the two sides today at around 4 am.
According to the agreement, Rabi Lamichhane will lead the Rastriya Swatantra Party, while Balen will be put forward as the future prime minister.
The party’s election symbol will remain the bell, the official symbol of the RSP.
The agreement document has been signed by RSP Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane and Mayor Balen Shah.
The seven-point agreement is as follows:
- Expressing commitment to taking ownership of the movement led by youths against corruption and poor governance, and to appropriately addressing the demands of the injured and the families of martyrs.
- Committing to the honest implementation of a roadmap aimed at transforming Nepal into a respectable middle-income country within the next decade through deep policy, institutional, and structural reforms necessary for national prosperity and social justice, and by laying the foundation for economic and social progress and civilised political practice.
- Following the broader unification between the first and second parties, the political party shall be named the Rastriya Swatantra Party; the party flag shall retain its previous design with a blue background featuring a blue bell inside a white circular centre; the party’s election symbol shall be the bell; and the central office shall be located in the Kathmandu Valley.
- Rabi Lamichhane shall remain the central chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, and after the upcoming House of Representatives election, Balendra Shah shall serve as the parliamentary party leader and the party’s candidate for prime minister.
- After the broader unification, responsibilities within the party’s organisational structure shall be assigned by appropriately integrating youth activists and experienced experts, based on merit, inclusiveness, and public image, to further strengthen and expand the party.
- Updating all documents related to the Rastriya Swatantra Party at the Election Commission in accordance with this agreement.
- Calling on other civilised, reform-oriented alternative political forces, groups, and individuals to unite around the principles, leadership, and election symbol (bell) of the Rastriya Swatantra Party to advance the issues of good governance, prosperity, and social justice.
