KATHMANDU, MAY 1

Rastriya Swatantra Party Spokesperson Mukul Dhakal has said the Rastriya Swatantra Party will decide whether to withdraw its support to the government or not by Friday.

"In the meeting of RSP central committee held in Basundhara today, there was discussion on whether to withdraw or maintain support to the government," Dhakal informed.

"By Friday, after studying all the perspectives, we will analyse in-depth in Friday's meeting and make a decision," he said. RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane has continued to support the government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Before holding discussion in his party, Lamichhane met Prime Minister Dahal yesterday.

After the by-elections on April 23, there are 21 RSP members of Parliament. Nepali Congress is the largest party in the House of Representatives followed by CPN- UML and CPN-Maoist Centre.

RSP Spokesperson Dhakal also said when the prime minister is ready, his party will propose to make Swarnim Wagle, who was elected from Tanahun Constituency-1, the finance minister.

In response to mediapersons' queries, Dhakal said, "RSP lawmakers also opined that they should claim the Ministry of Finance because the economy of the country is weak. But it will be decided after deciding whether or not to support the government."

"When the prime minister is ready, we will be delighted to see Swarnim Wagle as the country's finance minister. This is the current need of the country. But the decision as to whether to support the government or not will be taken only on Friday," said Dhakal.

In Chitwan today, PM Dahal said he was ready to allow the RSP to participate in the government.

He also claimed that the RSP would not withdraw its support to the government.

"Earlier yesterday, a meeting was held between RSP chair Lamichhane and PM Dahal wherein they discussed about continuing support to the government," Press adviser to the PM, Govind Acharya, told THT.

He said, "The prime minister has assured Lamichhane he is flexible about welcoming RSP in the Cabinet." RSP has been demanding major portfolios like home affairs, labour ministry, and now finance ministry as they think they need to deliver services as per the promises they have made earlier. Chief Whip of RSP, Santosh Pariyar said in the party meeting that leaders had voted in favour of not joining the government until the next election, adding, "Perhaps a joint meeting of the party can take a decision on Friday."

The RSP, which became the fourth largest party in the House of Representatives elections held on November 20, participated in the Dahal-led government formed after the elections. It had taken charge of three ministries, including the deputy prime minister and one minister of state.

But within a month of participating in the government, RSP Chair Lamichhane lost his position as member of Parliament due to the issue of his Nepali citizenship. Lamichhane resigned as deputy prime minister and minister of home affairs after his removal from the post of MP.

After PM Dahal was not ready to make Lamichhane home minister again the latter regained his Nepali citizenship within a few days, a dispute started between the Maoists and RSP.

Finally, on February 5, all the ministers of RSP resigned and left the government. Despite not participating in the government, RSP maintained its support to the government.

Political experts have linked this move of RSP with the pending dual passport complaint against Rabi Lamichhane.

But the Attorney General's office decided not to file a case against him over passport issue, citing that bases and evidences were not enough.

The Supreme Court issued a show cause notice regarding the decision of the Attorney General's Office. Discussions were going on in the RSP for a long time in favour of withdrawing support to the government.

After the result of the April 23 by-elections, RSP chair Lamichhane said there was no reason to continue support to the government.

Likewise, Lamichhane has been elected leader of the parliamentary party of the RSP.

The parliamentary party meeting held today re-elected Lamichhane as leader of the parliamentary party. Earlier, the party's central committee meeting was held. The joint general minister of the party, Kabindra Burlakoti said the party's support to the government would remain unchanged and the rest of the decision would be taken at the joint meeting on Friday.

He said, "Party chair Lamichhane had been elected leader of the parliamentary party. It has been decided that the discussion regarding whether to continue or withdraw support to the government will be finalised at the joint meeting on Friday."

A version of this article appears in the print on May 2, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.