RSP
Chair Lamichhane defends party’s unique approach amid
criticism (kh 20/09/2023)
Swatantra
Party leaders face challenges in expanding organisation
in Madhesh : The party, deemed to have not fully
embraced federalism, is now active building its
organisation in the provinces, by Nishan Khatiwada
(kp 04/09/2023)
‘There
is possibility of unification between Bibeksheel Sajha
party and RSP’ (rep 24/08/2023)
‘No
decision made in RSP without discussions’, interview
with Sumana Shrestha, central committee member of RSP and
a federal lawmaker (kp 14/08/2023)
Vital
Clues For Rastriya Swatantra Party, by Mukti Rijal
(rn 10/08/2023)
Rabi
Lamichhane’s new populist measures fail viability test :
Lamichhane’s secretariat is unsure how it will manage
the monthly rent of the free bus, estimated at Rs130,000,
by Nishan Khatiwada (kp 05/08/2023)
One
year young: Calls for clarity in RSP’s political vision
: Party sees a swift rise in electoral politics. But to
deliver, it needs to change the way it functions,
observers say, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp 23/06/2023)
Swatantra
Party leaders seek rewrite of political paper : A year
after party formation, they call for clarity on
political and ideological stands on major national
issues, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp 18/06/2023), Think
long and hard : RSP leaders preparing the party’s
political document should resist being swayed by
populist rhetoric (kp 19/06/2023) [In
particular, the party should strive to become socially
inclusive at all levels, including the concerns of
traditionally excluded groups. Then this young party
would definitely have chances for the future compared to
the non-inclusive big parties!]
Out
of government, RSP working to strengthen its base : As
many as 30,438 members have been verified with their
memberships renewed for the next five years, leaders say,
by Nishan Khatiwada (kp 13/06/2023)
Can
RSP walk the talk on scrapping pork barrel fund? It has
brought a motion against the fund, but has yet to decide
whether it will accept the fund if efforts fail (kp
06/06/2023), Got
the guts? RSP lawmakers have a chance to set a sterling
precedent by rejecting CDF funds for its lawmakers
(kp 07/06/2023) [If the RSP
really stands by it, this corrupt practice of the
established parties will be properly exposed!]
Court
clears way for RSP’s Kansakar to become lawmaker in
place of Shrestha : Dhaka Kumar Shrestha had moved the
court against his party’s decision to sack him (kp
26/05/2023)
Commitment
and qualification a must for politics, interview
with Pranaya
SJB Rana: (ae
18/05/2023)
SC
asks proof of RSP President Lamicchane’s renouncement of
US passport (rep 17/05/2023)
RSP
suspects meeting of top three parties as to settle
Bhutanese refugee scam (rep 15/05/2023)
RSP
will supports govt if it carries out pro-people
activities: Rabi Lamichhane (rep 14/05/2023)
Rabi
Lamichhane’s RSP and Its Future, by Diwakar Dhakal
(rep 11/05/2023)
RSP’s
Bindabasini Kansakar appointed HoR member (ae
08/05/2023)
Rastriya
Swatantra Party to focus on organisation-building : The
newly formed party is widening its reach in all
districts, provinces, constituencies and local units,
giving fresh impetus to the drive after withdrawing
support to government, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp
08/05/2023)
SC
issues interim order not to implement RSP’s decision to
sack its MP Dhaka Kumar Shrestha (rep 08/05/2023)
Let’s
rise above political thoughts to develop country: RSP
leader Khanal (kh 06/05/2023)
RSP
to withdraw its support to Dahal-led government (kh
05/05/2023), Swatantra
Party withdraws support to the government :
Constitutional experts divided over whether PM Dahal
needs to get a fresh vote of confidence in Parliament,
by Nishan Khatiwada (kp 06/05/2023)
Should
Rastriya Swatantra Party join the government? They could
take a leaf out of the book of Canadian politics
The creation of a confidence and supply agreement with
the ruling coalition could give RSP a lot of influence
without losing its opposition status, by Simone
Galimberti (nlt 05/05/2023)
Dahal
keen to rope in RSP as coalition partners dither
: The prime minister is ready to re-allocate the
three ministries the RSP led earlier, says
spokesperson, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp
02/05/2023) [Is the RSP
willing to give up its independence for power
and posts? Where is the difference?]
Rabi
Lamichhane says court cannot examine Attorney
General’s decision : The writ petitioner Yubaraj
Poudel, however, claims the attorney general’s
powers as stipulated by Article 158(2) does not
apply in Lamichhane’s case, by Tika R
Pradhan (kp 02/05/2023)
Fork
in the road for RSP : Can the party develop a loyal
cadre base that can work for the long haul without
seeking immediate personal gains?, by Biswas Baral
(kp 01/05/2023)
When
renowned world cyclist Pushkar Shah was denied entry
into the RSP office... (rep 01/05/2023)
Division
in ruling coalition over possible Cabinet entry of
Swatantra Party : While the prime minister wants to
accommodate the party, RSP leaders say they are yet to
seriously discuss matter, by Nishan Khatiwada
(kp 01/05/2023), PM
Dahal asks RSP to join govt : Expresses willingness to
investigate corruption cases (kh 01/05/2023), RSP
to take decision on joining government only on Friday
(ae 01/05/2023)
Aryal
resigns as leader of the parliamentary party of RSP
(rep 30/04/2023), Rabi
Lamichhane picked leader of RSP parliamentary party
(kh 01/05/2023)
RSP
may withdraw its support to govt: Rabi Lamichhane
(rep 28/04/2023), Swatantra
Party carefully calculating government support : Prime
Minister Dahal is trying to woo Rabi Lamichhane as
Maoist Centre leaders apparently fear a Congress
betrayal, by Tika R Pradhan (kp 29/04/2023)
Dhaka
Kumar Shrestha officially loses lower House membership :
Rastriya Swatantra Party had on April 13 expelled
Shrestha after a leaked audio suggested he demanded
bribes from a businessman (kp 25/04/2023)
RSP
Chair Lamichhane hints at withdrawing support to
government (kh 25/04/2023)
Swarnim
Wagle elected from Tanahun-1 : The renowned economist
and former vice-chair of National Planning Commission
had rebelled against Nepali Congress and joined
Rashtriya Swatantra Party to contest the by-election
from Tanahu-1. He won by a huge margin (nlt
25/04/2023), Rabi
Lamichhane secures landslide victory from Chitwan-2 :
The Rastriya Swatantra Party chairman got reelected from
the same constituency twice in five months with a much
larger number of votes than in the November 2022 polls
(nlt 25/04/2023)
National
miasma : Independent party all set to overturn Nepal’s
national politics in crucial by-elections, by
Shristi Karki (nt 21/04/2023)
Swatantra
Party cadres under public scrutiny : They are growing
anarchic, intolerant of criticism and are no different
than traditional party cadres, say observers, by
Nishan Khatiwada (kp 21/04/2023)
Rabi
Lamichhane’s supporters becoming increasingly anarchic,
by Arun Bam (rep 17/04/2023)
RSP’s
sacking of lawmaker may hit legal hurdle : A court can
scrap the party’s decision made without following due
process, say multiple law practitioners, by Nishan
Khatiwada (kp 15/04/2023)
An
undercurrent of discontent in RSP : ‘Party chair showed
[my Facebook] post and a news item in Kantipur as the
basis for taking action against me,’ says sacked
lawmaker Dhaka Kumar Shrestha, by Nishan Khatiwada
(kp 14/04/2023)
Swatantra
Party picks Kansakar to replace sacked lawmaker : Two
leaders of the new party lost their parliamentary seats
within two-and-a-half months (kp 13/04/2023)
Dhaka
Kumar Shrestha recommended to be removed as lawmaker and
expelled from Rastriya Swatantra Party (nlt
12/04/2023), Suspended
Swatantra Party lawmaker now on corruption watchdog’s
radar : The tradition of exchanging positions of power
for money will promote policy corruption, experts say,
by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 12/04/2023), Rastriya
Swatantra Party expels its lawmaker Dhaka Kumar Shrestha
(nlt 12/04/2023), Positive
beginning: RSP’s pledge to support state agencies in
investigating the alleged bribery by its MP set a new
standard in Nepali politics (nlt 13/04/2023)
RSP
stuck in the muck it promised to clean up : The
proponents of alternative politics have been mired in
controversies, one after another, by Nishan
Khatiwada (kp 11/04/2023)
Second
audiotape of RSP lawmaker Shrestha released (rep
11/04/2023)
Audio
scandal a political propaganda ahead of elections:
Lamichhane (rep 10/04/2023) [???],
Santosh
Pariyar apologizes in parliament over audio tape of
bribe demand by RSP lawmaker (nlt 10/04/2023)
Lamichhane
and the Long Arm of the Law, by Akhilesh Tripati
(rep 09/04/2023)
RSP
suspends its MP Dhaka Kumar Shrestha after audiotape of
him demanding Rs 20 million from Durga Prasai (rep
09/04/2023), Audio
of RSP MP Dhaka Shrestha allegedly asking Durga
Prasai Rs 20 million leaked (kh 09/04/2023),
RSP
seeks clarification from MP Dr Shrestha on
controversial phone call (kh 09/04/2023)
The
Swarnim Waglé effect: Can RSP rise as an alternative
political force to liberals? For a long time, Nepali
Congress enjoyed the advantage of being the only
established democratic force of the country. Rastriya
Swatantra Party has shown some initial indications that
it can be an alternative platform for liberal candidates
(nlt 05/04/2023) [So far, the
RSP is less alternative, which would mean different from
the old parties, than additional!]
Swatantra
Party announces bypoll candidates : Rabi Lamichhane will
contest from Chitwan-2, Swarnim Wagle from Tanahun-1 and
Ramesh Kharel from Bara-2 (kp 02/04/2023) [Exclusively
male Bahuns in this "alternative" party too! Besides, if
I don't get nominated as a candidate in one party, then
I'll just switch to a more willing party.]
RSP
to contest by-elections without forming an alliance
(rep 25/03/2023)
RSP
holding discussions on whether or not to join govt
(rep 22/03/2023)
No
plans to join govt immediately: RSP chair Lamichhane
(kh 13/03/2023)
upreme
Court says Rabi Lamichhane passport issue will be
resolved as per law : The Rastriya Swatantra Party chief
can face a criminal charge if he is found to have
simultaneously possessed passports of Nepal and the US,
by Binod Ghimire (kp 08/03/2023)
RSP
forms province committees in all seven provinces (kh
01/03/2023)
Parliamentarian
Sumana Shrestha rejects allowance offered by a
government agency and an INGO. Her move is widely
appreciated on social media : On February 27, Sumana
Shrestha, Member of Parliament from Rastriya Swatantra
Party posted a status on social media regarding the
allowance offered by a government agency and an INGO
(nlt 28/02/2023)
RSP
decides to continue support to incumbent govt (kh
27/02/2023)
RSP
to join govt soon provided it gets Home Ministry :
Chairman Lamichhane to contest again from Chitwan-2
(kh 13/02/2023) [Please
remember that laws also apply to Rabi Lamichhane!]
Government
starts probe into Lamichhane’s Nepali passport : If
found guilty, the RSP chief could face a jail term of
three years and Rs30,000 fine, by Tika R Pradhan (kp
10/02/2023)
RSP’s
Rash Decision To Quit Govt, by Tirtha Bhattarai (rn
09/02/2023) [The real mistake
was that this party, which wanted to be an alternative
force, joined a government of the repeatedly failed old
forces in the first place!]
Some
RSP leaders troubled by Lamichhane’s Sunday outburst :
They are exploring ways of damage control, although the
matter is yet to be officially discussed at any party
forum, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp 07/02/2023), Shooting
the messenger : Lamichhane must be well aware that
Nepali mainstream media is considered among the freest
(kp 07/02/2023), KMG
chief Sirohiya breaks his silence : Offers
point-by-point rebuttals of the charges against him and
his family (kp 08/02/2023)
RSP
to withdraw from, but continue to support Govt (rn
05/02/2023) [Parties that
started out as an alternative should not support a
government of the old failed politicians, let alone
become member of such a government!], RSP
Chairman Lamichhane vents anger at media; says he became
a victim of media attacks (kh 05/02/2023) [??],
RSP
ministers tender resignation (kh), Urmila
Aryal files candidacy for NA vice chair (rn
05/02/2023), Lamichhane
throws a tantrum on losing stable Home : Rastriya
Swatantra Party chief lashes out at the media and
threatens to encircle their offices for supposedly
blocking his way back to the government. Blames everyone
but himself for his loss of deputy prime minister and
home minister position, by Tika R Pradhan and
Purushottam Poudel (kp 06/02/2023) [Why
do young political forces always quickly destroy the
hopes placed in them for a renewal of Nepali politics?],
RSP
denied home ministry, quits govt : All three ministers
of the Lamichhane-led party submit resignation to Prime
Minister Dahal, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht 06/02/2023)
RSP
undecided about PM’s new proposal; to boycott Sunday’s
Parliament meeting (kh 05/02/2023)
Rabi
Lamichhane and dual citizenship in Nepal : No
constitutional provision for dual citizenship, but state
offers limited citizenship rights for non-resident
Nepalis, by Binod Ghimire (kp 05/02/2023)
Dispute
over giving home ministry to Swatantra Party : CPN-UML
and Rastriya Prajatantra Party are for allowing Rabi
Lamichhane’s party to head the ministry while leaders of
prime minister’s party seem strongly against it, by
Nishan Khatiwada (kp 30/01/2023), UML
Chairman exerts pressure on PM Dahal to reinstate
Lamichhane as home minister (kh 30/01/2023) [Lamichhane
may have regained Nepali citizenship in a sudden night
and day action, but not parliamentary membership! But KP
Oli has never been much for legitimate procedures and
will not understand this!], Rule
v Rabi : Questioning the apex court verdict for the
benefit of one politician sets a dangerous precedent
(kp 31/01/2023), Lamichhane’s
Fall From Grace, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn
31/01/2023), SC
Ruling And Lamichhane's Ministerial Claims, by
Tirtha Bhattarai (rn 02/02/2023), Lamichhane's
position as MP revoked: HoR speaker (ht 02/02/2023),
Rabi
Lamichhane is Home-less : Prime Minister Dahal’s
refusal to hand back the Home Ministry to the
RSP may be the tipping point for his fragile
coalition, by Shristi Karki (nt 03/02/2023),
Rabi
Lamichhane's appointment as minister unconstitutional
for at least three months : Article 291 of the
Constitution of Nepal does not allow appointment to any
state positions for three months, by Tapendra Karki
(rep 04/02/2023) [!!]
What
next for RSP? At no time should a party be synonymous
with a single leader who is seemingly irreplaceable
(kp 30/01/2023) [All Nepali
parties are under the authoritarian control of a very
few politicians who consider themselves indispensable
and do not tolerate any expression of dissent! The RSP
wanted to be different.]
Rabi
Lamchhane acquires Nepali citizenship again (kh
29/01/2023) [This
sounds extremely fast! Millions of young people
have been waiting in vain for this for years!], With
citizenship, Lamichhane regains party
presidency : Lamichhane, whose status as
Deputy Prime Minister, Home Minister and
party president was scrapped on Friday by
the apex court, reacquired Nepali
citizenship and returned to the party top
post on Sunday (kp 30/01/2023)
Rabi
Lamchhane acquires Nepali citizenship again (kh
29/01/2023) [This sounds
extremely fast! Millions of young people have been
waiting in vain for this for years!], Dual
passport could cost Lamichhane his political
career : Act relating to House of
Representatives formation makes one guilty of
passport misuse unfit to contest elections,
by Binod Ghimire (kp 29/01/2023)
RSP
postpones scheduled programs, urges all to show
moderation (kh 27/01/2023) [The
SC verdict is also likely to question Lamichhane's
office as party president!], RSP
picks Dol Prasad Aryal as its Acting President (kh
28/01/2023)
Rabi
Lamichhane found guilty in citizenship case : Loses
posts of DPM, Home Minister and parliamentarian (kh
27/01/2023), Rabi
Lamichhane not eligible to remain lawmaker (nlt
23/01/2023), Supreme
Court annuls Rabi Lamichhane’s status as
lawmaker : The Constitutional Bench concluded
that the citizenship presented by Lamichhane to
contest the election was invalid (kp
27/01/2023), Home
Minister Lamichhane submits resignation to PM
Dahal (kh), As
a non-citizen, I have nothing left to say: Rabi
Lamichhane : I accept Supreme Court’s decision,
says Lamichhane (kh) [This
distinguishes him significantly from KP Oli, who
to this day does not accept the SC decisions of
2021!], The
rise and fall of Rabi Lamichhane : Nepal’s Home Minister
resigns after the Supreme Court rules he is not a Nepali
citizen (nt 27/01/2023)
RSP
to expand its organization within four months (kh
23/01/2023)
Rastriya
Swatantra Party goes against its own policy as it picks
plum Cabinet posts : In its bargain for positions, the
new party led by Rabi Lamichhane seems to have forgotten
its own commitment to cutting costs of legislature and
administration. Experts see the party no different in
its quest for power, by Nishan Khatiwada (kp
19/01/2023)
Apex
Court refuses to issue interim order in Home Minister
Rabi Lamichhane’s case : The Supreme Court has said that
the full hearing for the case has been scheduled for
January 25 (nlt 06/01/2023)
RSP
is not anti-federalist, interview with Santosh
Pariyar, MP (ae 03/01/2023)
A
parlous path ahead for Rabi Lamichhane : Within six
months of quitting TV job, the Rastriya Swatantra Party
chief has emerged as one of most powerful leaders,
by Nishan Khatiwada (kp 27/12/2022), Rabi
Lamichhane: Combative journalist turned home minister
(rep 27/12/2022)
RSP
to join govt under Chairman Rabi Lamichhane’s leadership
(kh 26/12/2022), We
joined govt after formation of a commission to probe
corruption was ensured: Lamichhane (rep 26/12/2022)
[Yes, please trust that the
corrupt will control the corruption!], RSP
Chair Lamichhane to be sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister
(kh 26/12/2022)
SC
refuses to issue stay order against Rabi
Lamichhane’s oath taking (kh 21/12/2022)
The
burden of trust: RSP’s challenges : Members of
the Rastriya Swatantra Party are young,
educated, and driven, which is good but not
enough, by Naresh Koirala (kp 21/12/2022)
SC
receives writ demanding revocation of Rabi Lamichhane’s
HoR membership (kh 14/12/2022), Petition
claims Lamichhane is not a Nepali citizen : The
journalist-turned-politician is accused of not ceding
his Nepali citizenship even after taking US citizenship
(kp 15/12/2022)
Rastriya
Swatantra Party intensifies talks in a bid to join govt
(kh 14/12/2022) [You were
elected as an alternative to the old failed politicians
and parties, not to help them stay in power!]
Rabi
Lamichhane’s RSP willing to join govt, discussions
underway on agendas (kh 11/12/2022) [You
can't steer the political system in the right direction
by supporting the repeatedly failed politicians in their
power ambitions, whatever conditions you set. For this
the people have not elected you! Only a change of
personnel to a younger generation at the top of the
major parties could justify participation!]
RSP
submits HoR members under PR category to EC (kh
11/12/2022)
RSP
in hot waters; leaders question party’s
intention while naming PR members (kh
08/12/2022)
RSP’s
things-to-do list is a bridge too far,
economists say : The party has said it wants to
bring revolutionary change in Nepal’s economy,
but it is confused about how that is going to
happen, by Pawan Pandey (kp 05/12/2022) [As an important opposition
force, they will have time to work out
solutions. After all, they are still a very
young party!]
Dr.
Toshima Karki resigns from NMC (kh
05/12/2022)
Conflict
in Lamichhane’s RSP; 47 district members demand
Makawanpur Chair’s resignation (kh 04/12/2022), Swatantra
Party district chief accused of helping Nepali Congress
candidate : Dispute appears to upset members of the public
elated by new party’s electoral success, by Purushottam
Poudel (kp 05/12/2022)
New
parliament to have seven national parties,
including two new ones : Emergence of Rabi
Lamichhane-led Rastriya Swatantra Party and CK
Raut-led Janamat Party as two new national
parties (rep 03/12/2022)
Two
new forces enter federal parliament as national parties
: Rabi Lamichhane’s Rastriya Swatantra Party and CK
Raut’s Janamat Party make the cut after the election
results pour in, by Binod Ghimire (kp 30/11/2022)
Expat
push key to Swatantra Party’s electoral success
: Migrant workers and students studying abroad
had urged their family members back in Nepal to
cast their votes in favour of RSP this election,
by Purushottam Poudel (kp 25/11/2022), RSP,
new kid on the block, chimes with voters : Wins five
parliamentary seats in valley, placed 3rd in PR vote
count, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht 25/11/2022)
The
scrutiny of incoming Swatantra Party lawmakers has
already begun : While some find party’s lack of clear
ideology troubling, others reckon its ranks of field
experts will serve well, by Purushottam Poudel (kp
24/11/2022)
Times
they’re changing : The rise of the Rastriya Swatantra
Party reflects the passion for change among Nepali
voters (kp 24/11/2022)
Congress
takes lead in preliminary vote counting : Rastriya
Swatantra Party makes an encouraging entry into national
politics (kp 22/11/2022)
Rise
of Rastriya Swatantra Party due to frustration with
major parties Which parties will suffer due to rise of
Swatantra Party? How will ruling coalition and UML fare?,
by Ameet Dhakal (Setopati 20/11/2022)
Former
journo Ravi Lamichhane announces ‘Rashtriya Swotantra
Party’ (kh 21/06/2022), EC
receives two petitions urging it not to register Ravi
Lamichhane’s party (kh 22/06/2022)
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