Nepal’s ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has opened its first national convention on Sunday with a significant organisational change that will see Prime Minister Balendra Shah automatically assume the position of senior leader without facing an election.
The three-day convention which formally begins the party’s process of institutionalising its leadership structure will elect members of the central committee and office bearers. However, the post of senior leader will remain outside the electoral process.
According to RSP Election Commission Deputy Chief Ram Gurung, the party’s election procedures do not provide for a contest for the position. Gurung confirmed that no election will be held for the role and that Shah will automatically assume the post.
The move follows a recent amendment to the party statute that introduced the position of senior leader. The amendment was made to accommodate Shah within the party’s organisational structure and is expected to be formally endorsed by delegates during the convention.
As the position will be assumed automatically, Shah will not be required to contest even for membership of the party’s central committee, Gurung said.
The convention will nevertheless see competitive elections for the party’s broader leadership. RSP plans to elect members of its central committee through voting after which office bearers will be chosen from among the elected committee members.
Under the amended statute, the party’s central committee will comprise 158 members including 19 office bearers.
The creation of a senior leader position specifically for Prime Minister Shah also signals the party’s effort to define his role within the organisation while maintaining a separate electoral process for other leadership posts.
