Former general secretary of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Mukul Dhakal, has filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC), claiming his expulsion from the party was unconstitutional and unlawful.

Dhakal argued that the party's decision to remove him from the positions of general secretary, party spokesperson, and central committee member was made from an illegitimate meeting, in contravention with the laws.

On Sunday, Dhakal submitted a five-point petition to Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, chief election commissioner, challenging the changes made in the Rastriya Swatantra Party leadership and requesting the Commission not to update the changes as per Section 51 of the Political Parties Act.

Dhakal argued that the party leadership had taken an erroneous step by removing him from his posts without his consent or presence, thus making the meeting and subsequent decisions invalid.

He urged the EC to verify the legitimacy of any decisions from the RSP by checking for his signature.

“I learned through the media on July 9 that I was removed from my positions in the party. However, I have not received any formal letter from the party regarding this. If such a decision has indeed been made, it is illegal, and I request the Election Commission not to update any records from the Rastriya Swatantra Party without proper verification.”

Dhakal emphasised that he was not given a chance to present his defence as per Section 18(2) of the Political Parties Act.

He claimed that the party’s actions contradicted the democratic principles enshrined in Nepal’s Constitution and the international democratic norms that necessitate a fair hearing before taking disciplinary action against anyone.

The party's central committee meeting on July 9 decided to strip Dhakal of his positions such as general secretary and spokesperson. The party however retained him as a general member of the organisation.

Dhakal was punished after he made public his review report that stated the party's popularity had nosedived and that it may face a disaster soon.

In the report he submitted to party chairman Rabi Lamichhane in the last week of June, he charged the party leaders with failing to fulfil the promises they made to the general public through Parliament and the government. RSP leaders accused him of making the content of the report public through the media.

He prepared the report after touring 38 districts, which the party had assigned in the wake of the Ilam by-elections held in April.