3 VPs in RSP; Ghising named first in seniority, bell retained as election symbol

KATHMANDU: Kulman Ghising, patron of the Ujyalo Nepal Party (UNP), has formally joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), marking a significant realignment in Nepal’s evolving political landscape.

According to an agreement signed on Monday, Ghising has entered the RSP as First-Ranking Vice President, following a formal unity between the Rastriya Swatantra Party and the Ujyalo Nepal Party.

As per the signed unity agreement, Rabi Lamichhane will continue as Central President of the RSP, while Kulman Ghising, D.P. Aryal, and Swarnim Wagle will serve as Vice Presidents of the party.

Party Identity Remains Unchanged

The agreement confirms that following the unification:

• The party name will remain “Rastriya Swatantra Party”

• The party flag will continue to feature a blue background with a white circular center containing a blue bell symbol

• The election symbol will remain the bell (ghanti)

• The central office of the party will remain within the Kathmandu Valley

These details were officially stated in a joint press release issued after the signing of the agreement.

Commitment to Democratic Reform and Good Governance

The unity agreement emphasizes that the alliance has been formed in response to Nepal’s changing political context and the need to establish a credible alternative political force within a pluralistic democratic system.

The two parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to:

• Social justice and an inclusive liberal economic framework

• Good governance and zero tolerance for corruption

• Addressing public aspirations through institutional, policy, and structural reforms

The agreement explicitly acknowledges the sacrifices made during various phases of people’s movements in Nepal, including the Gen Z-led protests of Bhadra 23 and 24 (Sept 8 & 9, honoring the martyrs and injured individuals who participated in those movements.

Key Provisions of the Unity Agreement

The agreement outlines several core commitments, including:

• Commitment to the Gen Z Movement: To internalize the spirit and objectives of the movement led by Gen Z youths against corruption and misgovernance, and to express a firm commitment to appropriately address the legitimate demands of the injured protesters and the families of martyrs.

• Vision for National Transformation: To remain firmly committed to an enlightened and self-reliant economy, delivery-based politics, the establishment of a meritocracy, zero tolerance for corruption, and good governance; and through deep policy, institutional, and structural reforms necessary to achieve national goals of prosperity and social justice, to honestly and effectively implement a roadmap that will transform Nepal into a respectable middle-income country within the next ten years—laying the foundation for socio-economic advancement and a cultured political practice.

• Party Identity Post-Unification: Following the unification of the First Party and the Second Party, the unified political organization shall be named “Rastriya Swatantra Party.” The party flag shall retain its existing design: a blue background with a white circle at the center, inside which a blue bell symbol is placed. The party’s election symbol shall be the “Bell,” and its central office shall be located within the Kathmandu Valley.

• Party Leadership: Rabi Lamichhane shall serve as the Central President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, while Kulman Ghising, D.P. Aryal, and Swarnim Wagle shall hold the positions of Vice-Presidents.

• Organizational Integration and Expansion: By embracing the Ujyalo Nepal Campaign and integrating it with the programs of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the party’s organizational structure shall be further strengthened and expanded. Youth activists and experienced experts affiliated with the Ujyalo Nepal Party shall be appropriately integrated, with responsibilities assigned based on merit, inclusiveness, and public credibility.

• Legal and Institutional Update: All documents related to the Rastriya Swatantra Party shall be duly updated and submitted to the Election Commission in accordance with this agreement.

• Call for Broader Democratic Alliance: United under the principles, leadership, and election symbol (Bell) of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, an open call shall be extended to other civilized, reform-oriented alternative political forces, groups, and individuals to collectively advance the agendas of democratic governance, prosperity, and social justice.