Rastriya Swatantra Party to Participate in Upcoming Local Government By-Elections

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has announced its decision to participate in the upcoming local government by-elections. The decision was made following a meeting of the party’s central committee on Wednesday, as confirmed by RSP Acting Spokesperson Manish Jha.

The Election Commission (EC) has proposed holding the by-elections in mid-December, although the exact date has not yet been finalized. According to the EC, by-elections are necessary to fill 34 vacant positions across different local governments.

This marks the first time the RSP will participate in local government by-elections since its formation. The party, which was established on June 21, 2022, and registered with the Election Commission on July 1, 2022, did not participate in the local government elections of 2022 or the provincial assembly elections held later that year.

RSP currently holds 21 seats in the House of Representatives.

During the meeting, the party also decided to take a strong stance against any statute of limitations on corruption cases. “The meeting has decided to lobby against any statute of limitations for corruption and to oppose such limitations through various means, including street protests and parliamentary debates,” Jha stated.

Additionally, the meeting resolved to seek a final clarification from suspended General Secretary Mukul Dhakal before taking any further action against him, according to Jha.