Kathmandu, August 19
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane has issued a stern warning to the party’s lawmakers and ministers, urging them to maintain parliamentary conduct, improve coordination and focus on results rather than publicity.
Lamichhane held a joint meeting with RSP lawmakers and ministers on Wednesday after concerns emerged over indiscipline among lawmakers and growing disagreements between lawmakers and ministers.
RSP parliamentary party leader and Prime Minister Balendra Shah was absent from the meeting, leaving Lamichhane to address the lawmakers and ministers on behalf of the party.
According to a leader who attended the meeting, Lamichhane told the ministers to change their working style while assuring that there would be no immediate change in the ministerial team.
Tensions have reportedly grown within the party as some lawmakers have publicly questioned the work of RSP ministers. Lamichhane instructed lawmakers to copy him when submitting questions to ministers.
“Write your questions to the ministers with a copy to me. I will also study them,” Lamichhane said. “The lawmakers have questions from the people, and lawmakers have questions for ministers. Let us strengthen coordination among the lawmakers, the party and the government.”
He also reminded the party that although the government is powerful, all opposition parties have come together against it.
‘Do not create a spectacle’
Lamichhane also raised concerns about RSP lawmakers’ conduct and attendance in Parliament.
With some lawmakers reportedly speaking in an undignified manner and skipping parliamentary meetings, he urged them to strictly follow parliamentary rules.
“You have to be regular in Parliament. You cannot make the parliamentary rules yourself, pass them and then refuse to follow them,” he said. “Do not create a spectacle through undignified activities. Both lawmakers and ministers must maintain parliamentary decorum in their conduct and activities.”
Lamichhane also warned against treating politics as a five-year project.
He said building a political party and establishing its political identity takes time, and that the existing structure should be strengthened rather than used for personal interests.
“If you think you found a position on the street without any investment, there is nothing I can say,” he said. “If you have come into politics only for five years, I will bid you farewell with garlands.”
Lawmakers, ministers told to update activities on RSP app
Lamichhane also instructed RSP lawmakers and ministers to make their activities more transparent.
He asked them to keep the party informed about their parliamentary interventions, travels, meetings and other activities and regularly update them on the ‘RSP Pulse’ app.
He also urged party members to abandon ego and improve internal communication.
“We must set aside our egos and work through coordination and dialogue,” he said. “The government can be effective only when lawmakers and ministers cooperate and coordinate. Communicate clearly with one another.”
Lamichhane also expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as a tendency to focus on publicity rather than actual work.
“Pay attention to how you present yourself in Parliament and how you behave according to your role. The people are looking for results. Focus on results rather than publicity,” he said.
He urged lawmakers to study parliamentary procedures and understand what they can and cannot do in their roles.
“Pay attention to learning and study,” he said, urging lawmakers to analyse how they should conduct themselves in Parliament and interact with the government and the public.
Lamichhane said the next meeting would be held with parliamentary party leader and Prime Minister Balendra Shah present.
RSP forms task force to amend parliamentary party statute
The meeting also formed a task force to make timely amendments to the RSP Federal Parliamentary Party statute.
The task force is headed by Kabindra Burlakoti, with Prakash Chandra Pariyar, Krantishikha Dhital and Ganesh Karki as members.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Lamichhane said the discussion was necessary because the RSP has a large number of lawmakers and individual remarks can sometimes lead to controversy.
“There are many of us. When many people speak, something said by one or two colleagues can become controversial. We will manage that,” he said.
He said the meeting was also held after questions were raised by members of the public and within the party about issues concerning the party’s parliamentary representation and ministers.
