Kathmandu, July 14

A rift has surfaced in the Rastriya Prajatantra Party after Chairman Kamal Thapa nominated 42 members in the party’s Central Committee.

Senior RPP leader Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana issued a press release today condemning Thapa’s decision. Rana said in the release that Thapa nominated 42 members without consulting him and other leaders of the party. He also urged Thapa to withdraw the decision ‘to save the party from split’.

“I learnt from the media that Chairman Thapa has nominated CC members,” Rana said, adding that the decision ignored proportional and inclusive representation of Madhes, women, indigenous nationalities, Dalits,  marginalised groups and backward regions.

“I  strongly condemn the decision,” Rana said and added that Thapa did not inform the CC about his decision.  “There are people who say Thapa has turned the party into a private entity,” Rana said.

RPP Co-spokesperson Mohan Shrestha claimed that Thapa had  consulted  Rana and other leaders before nominating CC members. “Leader Rana knows the prerogative of the party chair. Party statute also gives him power to nominate members in the Central Committee,” he added.

He said Rana could discuss the issue in the party’s upcoming CC meeting scheduled for July 19 to review the results of the first and second phase of local level elections and make strategy for the third phase of the polls. Third phase of local level polls is scheduled to be held on September 18 in 127 local levels of eight districts of Province 2.