RSP Convention campaigning intensifies as hundreds vie for central committee seats

KATHMANDU: Campaigning has intensified at the ongoing first national convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) as the party’s election process moves forward, with candidates and their supporters actively seeking votes across the convention venue.

Leaders contesting for central committee positions, along with their proposers, supporters, well-wishers, and party activists, have been busy canvassing delegates since early morning in a bid to secure votes ahead of the elections.

Despite soaring temperatures, the convention grounds have witnessed heightened political activity, with government ministers, lawmakers, and senior party leaders engaged in vigorous campaigning.

Although the party’s Central Election Commission has yet to publish the final list of candidates, several ministers and prominent leaders have already been seen actively reaching out to delegates and seeking support.

Supporters of ministerial and parliamentary candidates have been distributing campaign materials and promoting their preferred contenders throughout the convention venue.

Many argue that extensive campaigning has become necessary due to the large number of candidates, making it difficult for delegates to identify all contestants.

RSP Central Committee member Rajan Gautam said candidates holding influential positions have been campaigning aggressively out of concern over increasingly competitive elections.

“Ministers, lawmakers, and party leaders have been continuously calling delegates and requesting votes. Such activities are natural during an election,” Gautam said.

He added that while candidates have utilized pamphlets, campaign songs, social media, news coverage, and other promotional tools, the distribution of printed campaign materials has been restricted within the convention premises.

According to Tejendra Poudel, the party statute requires elections for the chairperson and central committee members in the first phase, with only elected members becoming eligible to contest in the second phase. As a result, the central committee election has attracted significant attention.

More than 4,000 delegates are expected to exercise their voting rights at the Chitwan convention. With over 400 candidates reportedly competing for 99 elected central committee positions, campaigning on a large scale is considered inevitable.

Political analysts note that the intense campaigning is also driven by unexpected defeats suffered by several founding leaders and lawmakers during recent provincial-level party elections, prompting even high-profile figures to work harder to secure support.

The election for the 99-member elected Central Committee will be conducted through an electronic voting system.

With more than 400 contenders in the race and a significant number of seats allocated through various inclusion-based clusters, the contest is expected to be highly competitive.