Nearly two months after the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) held its first general convention, the party is still labouring to fill key positions in its leadership and central committee.

The party held its convention in Chitwan from June 21 to 26, but positions to be filled through nomination remain vacant even after three central committee meetings.

Five among the 18 office-bearer positions, excluding the senior leader, remain vacant. Rabi Lamichhane is the party chair, while Swarnim Wagle and Sobita Gautam are vice-chairs. One vice-chair position is vacant, as is one general secretary position.

The party statute provides for five joint general secretaries, three joint spokespersons and two joint treasurers. Among these positions, one joint general secretary, one joint spokesperson and one joint treasurer are also yet to be appointed.

The central committee nominated six leaders to various positions on Friday. Purushottam Suprabhat Yadav was named joint general secretary, Jagadish Kharel spokesperson, Manohar Pradhan treasurer, Basumaya Tamang joint treasurer, and Namita Yadav and Surendra Chaudhary joint spokespersons.

The party has also been sluggish to fill its central secretariat and central committee. The RSP has a 33-member secretariat, but only 20 members have so far been designated.

The party’s second central committee meeting had nominated Prime Minister Balendra Shah as senior leader. At its third meeting, 13 more leaders were added to the secretariat, including Ganesh Parajuli, Shisir Khanal, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, Kabindra Burlakoti, Yadav, Pradhan and Kharel.

The central committee is even less complete. The statute allows the party to nominate 51 central committee members, but only nine have been appointed so far, leaving 42 positions vacant.

Those nominated are Yadav, Pradhan, Sunil Lamsal, Sudan Gurung, Pratibha Rawal, Bhoop Dev Shah, Basumaya Tamang, Surendra Chaudhary and Bhakta Bahadur Rai.

Party General Secretary Bipin Acharya said the vacancies will be filled gradually.

“Even the chair has suggested that we make the nominations in phases,” Acharya said. “We are working to nominate leaders to various positions gradually.”

The party has 28 departments, 22 of which currently remain leaderless.

Friday’s meeting appointed heads of six departments and a deputy head of another. Pramod Neupane was named head of the Organisation Department, Khanal head of International Relations, Vijay Jairu head of Public Service and Public Grievance Management, and Dr Toshima Karki head of Public Health. Joint General Secretary Nisha Dangi was handed the helm of the Infrastructure Department, while Lima Adhikari Acharya was appointed head of the Finance Department. Kamal Subedi was named deputy head of the Training Department.

An RSP leader speaking on condition of anonymity told Kantipur that the process has been delayed partly because the Balendra Shah faction has yet to submit names for key positions.

“Senior leader Shah has not yet provided the names of those to be assigned as vice-chair and general secretary,” the leader said. “Once he provides the names, the chair will table them before the central committee.”

Leaders close to Shah said either Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal or Home Minister Sudan Gurung could be nominated vice-chair.

Bhoop Dev Shah and Sudip Dhakal are being discussed for the general secretary position. Shah is a former RSP general secretary, while Dhakal is an adviser to the prime minister on policy, administration and good governance.

Acharya said the party leadership would finalise the appointments through consultations.

“We will finalise responsibilities after discussions at all levels,” he said.

The RSP held its first central committee meeting after the convention on July 1 and its second on July 29. But even after Friday’s third meeting, the ruling party’s organisational structure is far from complete.