The first general convention of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) enters its second day on Monday with the closed-door session set to begin, as delegates prepare to deliberate on key political, organisational, financial and statute amendment documents before the party moves into its leadership election process.

The closed session will open with the presentation of the disciplinary committee’s report by Ramakanta Rimal, followed by discussion. Treasurer Lima Adhikari will then present the party’s financial report.

General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti is due to present the organisational report, while Joint General Secretary Bipin Acharya will table the statute amendment proposal prepared by a committee under his leadership. Delegates will discuss and endorse the amendment, which requires approval by the closed session.

Vice Chairperson and Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle will present the party’s economic and political proposal before Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane tables his political report reviewing the current political situation and outlining the party’s future direction.

Following the presentations, the convention will form an interim management committee before the organising committee formally hands over responsibility to the party’s central election commission.

The commission will begin distributing nomination forms for the posts of chairperson and 99 central committee members from 1pm. According to election commission chief Bhuwan KC, nominations will be registered between 2pm and 4pm, while the preliminary list of candidates will be published at 6pm.

Delegates will be able to file objections to candidacies between 6pm and 7pm. The commission will settle complaints within the following two hours. Candidates may withdraw their nominations between 9pm and 9:15pm, and the final list of candidates for chairperson and central committee members will be published at 11pm.

Voting in the first phase is scheduled from 8:30am to 3pm on Tuesday, with vote counting and results to follow two hours later. The election commission said the schedule for the second phase, including nominations for office-bearer positions, will be announced after the first-phase results.

The convention is expected to endorse Chairperson Lamichhane and senior leader and Prime Minister Balendra Shah unopposed, while contests are likely for several other senior positions, including vice-chairperson, general secretary and joint general secretary. Under the party’s statute, only those elected to the central committee will be eligible to contest office-bearer positions.

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.