KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 8

Former chairperson of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Kamal Thapa has announced that he is making an exit from the party.

Thapa, in a statement issued from Hetauda, stated that he was compelled to take the decision due to the moral deviation seen in the party of late.

"I am announcing with a heavy heart that I am no longer with the party as the leadership did not pay heed to my concerns regarding the ongoing untoward tendencies," Thapa said in the statement.

It is now expected that he will soon register a new party under his leadership.

Meanwhile, incumbent RPP chair Rajendra Lingden has said that Thapa's relinquish move was unexpected as they were in dialogue with him to resolve existing differences and to address his concerns.

Rift had emerged between the two leaders with Lingden defeating Thapa in the party's recently held general convention, following which Thapa had been accusing former king Gyandendra Shah of meddling with election results which led to his loss. He had been demanding that the party conduct an inquiry on the same.