The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is all set to elect its chairperson and senior leader unanimously at its ongoing general convention in Chitwan, even as competition is intensifying for other key positions and the 99-member central committee.

According to party leaders, the RSP is moving towards a consensus on the top posts, with party chair Rabi Lamichhane and senior leader and prime minister, Balendra Shah, expected to be endorsed unopposed. However, elections are likely for several top positions, including vice-chair, general secretary and joint general secretary.

Addressing the convention’s inaugural session on Sunday, both Lamichhane and Shah urged delegates to ensure competition remains healthy and transparent. They warned party members against forming factions in pursuit of power, arguing that such practices had weakened Nepal’s traditional political parties.

“We must remember what I wrote in the political report presented at the Jaleshwar meeting in 2023,” said Lamichhane. “If the RSP falls, it will be because it stumbled over its own feet. No external force is powerful enough to bring this party down. Today is the time to take that warning even more seriously.”

Shah echoed the concern and appealed to delegates not to replicate the culture of factional politics that has long characterised mainstream parties.

“Many of you may be aspiring for central committee membership or office bearer positions,” said Shah. “If you want to become good leaders and good politicians, you must win the trust and affection of the people. The support of a small group is not enough. Don’t run after groups and factions.”

He added that leaders should avoid sowing ‘the seeds of division’ that could one day grow into a tree capable of splitting the party apart. “We have seen what happens when such seeds are allowed to grow. We must learn from the mistakes of older parties,” said Shah.

Lamichhane later reinforced the message, saying Nepali politics had developed a tendency in which leaders who could not win broad public support sought advancement through narrow alliances and internal groupings.

“We should not sow those seeds,” he said. “If factionalism grows and bears fruit, that fruit will be poisonous. As our senior leader said, we may one day be forced to cut down the very tree we nurtured.”

The convention comes at a crucial moment for the RSP, which emerged as a major political force after the March 5 general elections on promises of clean governance, accountability and an alternative to Nepal’s established parties. Since then, the party has repeatedly emphasised internal democracy and merit-based leadership selection while trying to distinguish itself from rivals often criticised for factional rivalries.

Party leaders said there are three vice-chairperson positions to be filled—one open, one reserved for women and one nominated. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle is considered the strongest contender for the open vice-chairperson post. Leaders close to the party leadership say there is no rival candidacy against him.

“Rabi Lamichhane as chairperson and Balen Shah as senior leader appear certain,” a senior leader said. “Swarnim Wagle also has a strong chance of becoming vice-chairperson if no one files a nomination against him.”

Competition is expected to be strongest for the women’s vice-chairperson position. Sobita Gautam, Lima Adhikari and Pratibha Rawal are considered possible contenders. Dr Toshima Karki is also being discussed either for vice-chairperson or general secretary.

The party has expanded the number of office bearers from 12 to 19 through amendments to its statute. The new structure includes one chairperson, one senior leader, three vice-chairpersons, two general secretaries, five joint general secretaries, one spokesperson, three deputy spokespersons, one treasurer and two deputy treasurers.

Sources in the party say Sunil Lamsal, who currently leads the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, is being considered for the nominated vice-chairperson position. Lamsal had joined the RSP alongside Shah.

The race for the open general secretary post is also expected to be competitive. Potential candidates include incumbent General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti, Bipin Acharya, Shisir Khanal, Manish Jha, Ganesh Parajuli and Yagyamani Neupane. Karki could also enter the contest if she does not seek the vice-chairperson position.

According to leaders, Khanal is willing to step aside if a consensus candidate emerges, while Neupane may withdraw if he is offered a joint general secretary position.

Possible contenders for the two open joint general secretary posts include Hari Dhakal, Prakash Chandra Pariyar and Asim Shah, a former lawmaker and political adviser to Prime Minister Shah. Nisha Dangi is among those being discussed for the women’s joint general secretary position.

Under the party statute, delegates will first elect the chairperson and 99 central committee members. Only elected central committee members can subsequently contest office-bearer positions. As a result, many aspirants are yet to formally declare their candidacies.

The convention’s closed session is scheduled to begin at 8am Monday. Delegates will discuss and endorse political, organisational, financial and statute amendment reports before the election process moves forward.

According to Bhuwan KC, chief of the party’s election commission, nomination forms for the chairperson and central committee positions will be distributed on Monday afternoon, while first-round voting is scheduled to begin at 8:30am on Tuesday.