Ex-police officers dominate candidacy for RSP Central Committee

KATHMANDU: At the first general convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), at least nine former police and armed police officials are actively contesting for central committee positions, creating a strong presence of ex-security personnel in the leadership race.

Candidates include former AIG Bishwaraj Pokharel of the Nepal Police, who is contesting from the Koshi Province cluster, and former ASI Tek Bahadur Shakya, now a Parsa MP, who is also seeking a central committee seat while avoiding the “ex-ASI” label and preferring to be called a former officer.

Former APF DIG Bidur Khadka, ex-spokesperson of the Armed Police Force Nepal, is contesting from Bagmati Province, while another ex-APF DIG Durga Prasad Bhattarai has also arrived at the convention preparing to compete.

Former APF SSP Vishweshwar Thapa from Bhaktapur and former SSP Bikram Singh Thapa—previously active in Nepali Congress and now an MP from Kapilvastu—are also in the race for central committee positions.

Former SSP Jeevan Kumar Shrestha, a retired officer and RSP central department member contesting from Gandaki, and former DSP turned lawyer Govinda Panthi, who won from Gulmi defeating UML leader Gokarna Bista, are also candidates.

Former Senior SI Shambhu Prasad Dhakal (Suskera), MP from Jhapa-4, is likewise actively campaigning at the convention.

Overall, ex-officers from ASI to AIG ranks are competing on equal footing for central committee posts at the RSP convention.