Kathmandu, January 5:

The disgruntled section of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has preponed its scheduled special convention for January 10 and 11 in Kathmandu. The special convention was scheduled for January 16-17.

“The decision has been taken keeping the welfare of the people and the country in mind,” a central working committee member of the RPP, Jagat Gauchan, said today.

Earlier in the day, the RPP had issued a statement, stating that the ‘undemocratic’ initiation taken by party leader Padma Sunder Lawati to convene the special convention of the party on January 16-17 was a ploy aimed at splitting the party.

The statement issued by the RPP general secretary, Deepak Bohara, had also asked party leaders and convention representatives to keep the party united by boycotting the “so-called” special convention.

On December 21, Lawati had registered an appeal at the party office, Kupondole, demanding that the party leadership either convene the special general convention within nine days or “face consequences”.

The party establishment said a special convention of the party can be called only if one-third of the convention representatives register a demand. Since over 100 representatives have withdrawn the demand and over 100 have joined the Rastriya Janashakti Party, the establishment says the Lawati may not have enough men to convene the convention.