RSP General Secretary dispute reaches SC

KATHMANDU: The internal dispute over the post of General Secretary within the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has now reached the Supreme Court.

Dr. Mukul Dhakal has filed a writ petition claiming he is the legitimate General Secretary, challenging the party’s decision to remove him.

The case is scheduled for hearing today at the bench of Justice Kumar Regmi.

In his petition, Dr. Dhakal has named the RSP Central Committee, party president Rabi Lamichhane, current General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti, and spokesperson Manish Jha as opponents.

The dispute took a dramatic turn after the Election Commission, on Asar 4, issued a letter stating that Dhakal is still listed as the party’s General Secretary in official records.

According to the commission, RSP last updated its leadership details on Chaitra 20, 2080 BS and has not submitted any new changes since.

Citing this letter, Dr. Dhakal has argued that the party’s decision to expel him is legally invalid.

The RSP, however, insists that it had expelled Dhakal from even general membership through a secretariat meeting held in Bhadra.

Yet, since this action was not officially updated with the Election Commission, legal complications have arisen.

Amid this confusion, the party convened a central committee meeting on Asar 7 and appointed Kabindra Burlakoti as the new General Secretary — a move now being contested by Dr. Dhakal in the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court spokesperson Achyut Kharel has confirmed that the writ claims Dhakal’s removal was unlawful and that he remains the valid General Secretary of the party.