On The Verge Of Split
In its one and a half decade long history, Rastriya Prajatantra Party finds itself again staring at another split
By A CORRESPONDENT
After a long debate between two factions in the party over how to respond to the ensuing municipal elections, RPP finally is heading towards split. The process has started following the announcement by party dissidents - mostly ministers of present cabinet - to call the special general assembly.
When party president and majority of central committee members declined to summon the general assembly as demanded by the faction led by vice president Padma Sunder Lawati, a hardliner former Pancha, and Home Minister Kamal Thapa, the dissidents have themselves announced the general convention to capture the party leadership.
“It is very unfortunate to say that the ministers have misused all the government machinery to bring their supporters and press district and local level party workers to join the so-called unconstitutional general convention,” said Pasupati Sumsher Rana, president of the party.
The party’s high command also suspended eight central committee members of RPP including home minister Kamal Thapa, vice president Padma Sunder Lawati, central committee member and assistant minister of Sports and Education Bhuvan Pathak and former spokesman of the party and assistant minister of Local Development Roshan Karki.
“We are holding the general convention to seek mandate from party workers against the Hukumiraj (dictatorship) of party president Pashupati Sumsher Rana. More than two third members of general conventions are with us,” said Lawati.
With the majority of members representing erstwhile Panchas, RPP was born as a twin and later it merged into single party securing the position of third largest political party after the first general elections. The party again split in 1997 under the leadership of two former prime ministers Surya Bahadur Thapa and Lokendra Bahadur Chand.
After dismissal of elected prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in October 4, 2003 , King Gyanendra had again appointed Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Surya Bahadur Thapa as prime ministers. Home Minister Kamal Thapa, who has a track record of shifting his side several times, was with prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, who now heads a separate party.
For RPP, factionalism is not a new thing and individualism has always prevailed over the party whenever the question of sharing power came. Two of its central committee members were appointed by the senior ministers in the first government formed after February 1, 2005 actions of the King.
This time home minister Thapa, vice president Lawati and other ministers constantly demanded to support King’s move of February 1, 2005 but the establishment led by Rana declined. In the process of appointment of district level presidents, vice president and members, the government led by King picked up the RPP workers who can easily stand with the King. Ignoring what is happening at the local level, RPP central committee, however, has been stressing the need for reconciliation between the King and the political parties.
With the announcement of municipal and central elections by the King, the faction led by Lawati had consistently demanded the decision of party to take part in the elections. In the last central committee meeting, the party gave this right to decide whether to contest the municipal elections to the district committees. But, home minister Thapa and vice president Lawati found this as an excuse to choose their own path.
