The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which is preparing to form the government on Friday after registering a thumping victory in the March 5 polls, is busy in parleys to give a final shape to the Cabinet.

The party has already decided to nominate Balendra Shah as its candidate for prime minister. Shah, who was elected an independent mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the 2022 local elections, resigned from his post on January 18 before joining the party.

Earlier, on December 28, a seven-point agreement was reached between RSP President Rabi Lamichhane and Shah, under which Shah would be the party’s candidate for prime minister, while Lamichhane would continue to lead the party. In line with the agreement, the party is preparing to elect Shah as its parliamentary party leader before the oath-taking scheduled for Friday.

“We have held consultations with the concerned authorities regarding administering the oath of office to the new prime minister on March 27 [Friday],” said party general secretary Kabindra Burlakoti

With the date for government formation set, the party leadership is busy finalising the names to be included in Shah’s Cabinet.

Leaders say ministers are likely to be picked from among those whose names have already been circulating in public discussions.

“There are strong possibilities that selections will be made from those already being talked about,” a leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.

Several names of the party lawmakers are making the rounds on social media along with potential portfolios. The party’s leaders dismiss them as rumours, but say some could actually make it to the Cabinet.

“Following the post-uprising elections, there is pressure on us to form a Cabinet that upholds the trust the public has placed in us. We are in the process of constituting a Cabinet that can address public expectations,” said a member of the party secretariat.

The RSP manifesto states that the Cabinet size would not exceed 18, a limit the party leaders say they would fully adhere to. The country’s constitution, however, allows up to 25 members.

Within the party, leaders say there is a strong chance that Shishir Khanal, who currently heads the party’s international department, could be appointed as foreign minister. Owing to his close relationship with both Lamichhane and Shah, leaders suggest he is likely to secure a Cabinet post.

However, Khanal has consistently downplayed such claims. “I am aware that my name has been circulating, both in and outside the party, as a possible foreign minister,” he said. “But there has been no official decision.”

Khanal was also part of the RSP’s negotiating team formed last December to facilitate Shah’s entry into the party. He is widely credited within the party for helping bring Shah into the RSP fold.

Sources, meanwhile, say Lamichhane and Shah have differences over the names for a few key ministerial portfolios. The disagreement over the home ministry has even surfaced publicly. Lamichhane reportedly prefers vice-president Dol Prasad Aryal, while Shah wants Sunil Lamsal, who had worked in his secretariat during his tenure as mayor.

“It is true that Lamichhane wants Aryal in the home ministry, while Shah is keen on appointing Lamsal,” a member of Lamichhane’s secretariat told the Post.

After joining the RSP, Shah forwarded two names for roles in the party secretariat. One was Bhoop Dev Shah, and the other was Sasmit Pokharel. Bhoop Dev was given the role of party joint general secretary, while Pokharel was appointed joint spokesperson of the party.

Shah, who contested for parliament from Achham constituency 2, was defeated, whereas Pokharel won from Kathmandu-5. According to party sources, Pokharel is likely to get an important portfolio in the Shah Cabinet. Having previously worked with Shah as an associate expert at the city’s Planning Commission during his tenure as mayor, Pokharel, sources say, is expected to be appointed education minister.

A meeting of the party’s four top leaders—Lamichhane, Shah, Swarnim Wagle and Aryal— was held on Thursday at a hotel in Kathmandu to discuss government formation. Lamichhane, along with Aryal and Wagle, met Shah, who had been staying at the hotel to focus on shaping the new government’s structure.

According to a party leader familiar with the discussions, the meeting focused not only on the composition of the new Cabinet but also on key positions in the new Parliament, including the Speaker, deputy parliamentary party leader, chief whip, and whip.

Party leaders say that Sobita Gautam, who is also known for her background in law, is currently being discussed as a candidate for Speaker. They claim that if the situation remains unchanged, her chances of securing the position will steadily increase. However, they also note that she is not the only name in the contest.

Another party leader being mentioned as a possible Speaker is Sulav Kharel—who defeated CPN-UML Vice-Chair and former Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Paudel in Rupandehi-2.

Adding weight to these discussions, a member of the party’s secretariat pointed out that as most of those elected from the party are young, the Speaker’s position could also go to a younger figure. That said, no consensus has yet been reached on the final name.

Likewise, Jagdish Kharel, a former media professional and former Information and Communications Minister in the interim government, is also being discussed as a possible candidate for Speaker. According to party sources, if he is not picked as Speaker, he has expressed a desire to return to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

However, Kharel himself says that any decision on whether he will serve as a minister, as Speaker or only as a lawmaker will be made by the party president and the new prime minister.

“I have no desire for any position as such,” Kharel told the Post.

Sudan Gurung, a prominent face in the September’s revolt, elected from Gorkha-1 on an RSP ticket, has been visiting various ministries and submitting memoranda for administrative reforms since shortly after his victory. During this period, he approached the Ministry of Civil Aviation, demanding an investigation into the widebody aircraft scam, and he has also raised different demands with other agencies.

Some party leaders interpret Gurung’s proactive engagement as a way of positioning himself for a place in the upcoming Cabinet. However, Gurung himself maintains that he is not claiming any ministerial post.

“I have no interest in a ministerial position,” Gurung told the Post.