The secretariat meeting of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has decided to expand its central committee and introduce a provision for a senior leader in the party statute.

The meeting held on Thursday at the party’s central office, chaired by RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane, decided to increase the central committee size to 158 members, including seven provincial committee chairs as ex officio members.

The decision also includes adding a senior leader position in the party statute. A draft prepared by a statute amendment committee coordinated by joint general secretary Bipin Acharya had not included the post, leaving it undecided, but the secretariat agreed to formally incorporate it.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah is currently the party’s senior leader, although the statute had not previously defined the role. The provision is expected to be formalised through amendments at the party’s first general convention.

The secretariat also decided to expand the number of office-bearers. According to a member, the structure will now include one chair, one senior leader, three vice-chairs (including one woman), two general secretaries, five joint general secretaries (including one woman), one spokesperson, three joint spokespersons (including one woman), one treasurer and two joint treasurers (including one woman).

The amendment committee had proposed 16 office-bearers, but the secretariat expanded the structure and agreed to make it more gender-inclusive.

Discussions were also held on nominating some office-bearers, including one vice-chair and two joint general secretaries, though no final decision has been made.

After the general convention, the party plans to expand the secretariat to 33 members. The chair, vice-chairs, general secretaries, joint general secretaries, spokesperson and treasurer will automatically be part of the body.

The central committee will also include 51 nominated members appointed by the chair. A secretariat member said the changes were made to accommodate pre-election understandings, party unifications and the inclusion of independent figures joining the party.