KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 27
Efforts to unify three alternative faces, including Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra (Balen) Shah, Ujyaalo Nepal Party patron Kulman Ghising, and Rastriya Swatantra Party Chair Rabi Lamichhane could not produce an agreement today. The consensus could not be forged due to uncertainty of Ghising's role and place in the new arrangement.
A central committee leader of the Ujyaalo Nepal Party told THT, "Multiple levels of meetings were held today among three leaders, including Shah, Lamichhane and Ghising. However, no consensus could be reached because Ghising's position has not been identified and fulfilled in relation to his current portfolio in our party." According to him, Ghising presented the leaders with the option of becoming the chair of the unified party or accepting the Ujyaalo Nepal Party as a common party. "However, RSP was unable to provide any possible space for our position," he stated.
Ghising was appointed the minister for energy, water resources and irrigation in the interim government formed following Gen Z protests on September 8 and 9. Nonetheless, the source confirmed that consensus has been reached among the Ujyaalo Nepal Party, Shah and Gen Z groups to go together. "The possible announcement will be made tomorrow if no advancement is made with RSP," he told THT.
According to him, Shah has been unequivocally accepted as the common candidate for prime minister following the March 5 elections. "However, the leaders are grappling with accommodating all of them with appropriate positions," he added.
Ghising had previously stated that the party ought to reevaluate the RSP's proposal. Raising the issue of existence and identity, he explained that it was futile to unite by providing the party's name, election symbol and position.