The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has promised to release cooperative and microfinance operators jailed or in pre-trial detention on a conditional basis, according to its manifesto released from Surkhet, the capital of Karnali Province.

RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane, senior leader Balendra Shah, and vice-chairs DP Aryal and Swarnim Wagle outlined in the manifesto that the party would overhaul weak and unregulated oversight in the cooperative and microfinance sectors, bringing all financial institutions under Nepal Rastra Bank’s direct supervision.

Lamichhane himself faces charges in five districts—Kaski, Chitwan, Rupandehi, Kathmandu, and Parsa—for cooperative fraud. The party stated it would adopt a policy to release operators jailed for cooperative fraud if they are willing and able to return depositors’ funds.

The manifesto notes that if RSP forms the government, jailed operators could be freed under legal arrangements aimed at recovering savers’ money rather than punitive measures. “Our goal is not to imprison operators, but to return depositors’ funds. If a cooperative’s management is ready to refund deposits and has credible resources and plans, we will facilitate legal channels for settlement,” it said.

RSP also pledged to return small savers’ money within 100 days of forming the government, though the manifesto does not specify who will refund the funds or the threshold defining small savers. “We will ensure the earnings of ordinary citizens are safe and returned to small savers’ accounts within 100 days of government formation,” it stated.