Rastriya Swatantra Party Madhesh Province Convention Postponed

Kathmandu. The Madhesh Province convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) will not take place before Dashain. The convention, which was postponed due to pressure from elected MPs and ethnic disputes, has not yet been prepared by the Central Election Commission even after two months since the general convention was completed. Deputy Chief of the Central Election Commission, Ram Gurung, informed that the provincial and district conventions will not be held before Dashain as the situation in Madhesh Province is different. 'Discussions are ongoing with the party leadership to hold the postponed convention in Madhesh. We are in favor of holding the convention by Dashain. There is still two months left. However, no concrete decision has been made yet to inform the media,' said Gurung. The commission had issued a notice on Jestha 26 stating that all activities of the Madhesh convention have been postponed as necessary to ensure the fair, transparent, credible, and lawful operation of the convention. Due to the escalating dispute between two factions of the party, party president Rabi Lamichhane held discussions with MPs and leaders representing Madhesh on Asar 3. The dispute subsided because he assured that the convention would be held on his own initiative after resolving the disputes in Madhesh. Out of the 8 districts in Madhesh, the convention has been completed only in Parsa. The convention in Parsa was held peacefully due to the active initiative of MP Buddhiprasad Pant, elected from Parsa-1. A new working committee has been selected under Pant's leadership. However, incidents of disputes and clashes also occurred in Parsa. Leaders have expressed doubts that the convention will not be held before Dashain even in Madhesh due to the interference of founding leaders and elected MPs in the federal parliament. 'It is very difficult to hold the convention here. There is direct interference from founding leaders and federal MPs. I don't think the convention will be held before Dashain due to active ethnic groups and the narrow-mindedness of the leadership,' said the leader. The RSP has already completed conventions in 6 other provinces except Madhesh. The first central general convention was completed in Chitwan from Asar 7 to 12.