Senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and its declared prime ministerial candidate, Balendra Shah (Balen), has said federalism can only be strengthened by empowering provincial structures.

Addressing an RSP programme in Janakpur on Monday, Shah said provinces must be made strong enough to end the need to travel to Kathmandu to seek power. “Kathmandu should not be a place to demand rights; it should be a place to visit Pashupati and Swayambhunath,” he said, adding that provinces would remain weak so long as even administrative changes require approval from the capital.

Shah urged voters to support the RSP not on the basis of identity but competence. “Vote for RSP not because a Madhesi’s son is becoming prime minister, but because the right person is coming into leadership,” he said. He also called for the expansion of the model of socialism practised in Kathmandu Metropolitan City across all seven provinces and 753 local units, citing free education in expensive schools and free treatment in well-equipped hospitals as examples.

He further said the RSP would prioritise the protection of temples, ponds and land in Madhesh, urging voters to support the party for the development of both the region and the country.

RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane, who also addressed the gathering, said the government that fired on children during the Gen Z movement in September would be held accountable for injustices committed against the country and Madhesh. He reiterated his claim that he was removed from Parliament through deceit and said he would return as the leader of the party with the highest number of votes.

Rejecting regional divisions, Lamichhane said there were no Madhesh- or mountain-centric forces, only “Nepal-centric” ones. He claimed the party’s growing support in Madhesh reflected seeds sown earlier now bearing fruit, adding that the party had arrived late but robustly in the region.

Addressing the party’s programme, Swarnim Wagle, the RSP vice-chair, claimed the party would emerge as the largest force in the upcoming election, saying the strong turnout in Janakpur answered allegations that the party opposed federalism or neglected Madhesh and Sudurpaschim. DP Aryal, another vice-chair of the party, said Madhesh had long lacked policy-making leadership but would now produce leaders capable of running the country, urging voters to cast their ballots for the bell symbol in the upcoming polls.

RSP has presented Balen, former mayor of Kathmandu Metropolis, as its candidate for the prime minister if the party gets a majority in the March 5 elections.