After Rabi Lamichhane, president of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), was taken into police custody, it is not clear who is leading the party. Instead, Vice President Dolprasad (DP) Aryal has been mired in controversy and criticism partly due to his own reasons and partly due to suspicions and surveillance from the higher levels of the RSP.
After Rabi was taken into custody, the party opted for street demonstrations. His strategy of hitting the streets for the release of his leader, who was detained pending a court order for criminal investigation, was not effective. Leaders who reached Pokhara returned to Kathmandu within a week. A meeting of the available leaders of the RSP in Kathmandu assigned two vice presidents separate responsibilities for the two main fronts, according to which the Vice President DP Aryal was given the responsibility of the street demonstrations and the other Vice President Swarnim Wagle was given the responsibility of the political dialogue.
However, within hours of this decision, the leaders were seen taking on different roles. Notably, Vice President DP Aryal, who was tasked with leading street demonstrations, attempted to meet with government leaders before the Tihar Deusi-Bhailo festivities began. This has sparked debate within the RSP about the appropriateness of his actions.
However, the way Aryal approached the power centers in Singha Durbar and Baluwatar, has created ripples within the party and raised concerns among political analysts.
DP Aryal, the leader who has been given the responsibility of handling the road demonstration, is being accused within the party of approaching the ruling leaders for political deals by foiling the street demonstration program of RSP. Meanwhile, a screenshot of a message sent from Aryal's phone, requesting a meeting with Foreign Minister Arzu Rana, has been leaked to the public.
"Namaste Kamalji, I am DP Aryal. Let's arrange a time for a short meeting with the minister," reads the message in Roman script. Kaml Rawal is an aide of Foreign Minister Rana.
Now the question arises, who took the screenshot and leaked it to the public? The screenshot indicates that DP Aryal was actively using his mobile device to communicate. It's unlikely that anyone other than Aryal himself or someone with direct access to his device could have taken the screenshot.
While Aryal has admitted to meeting with government leaders and has not denied sending the message, he has objected to unauthorized access to his secret messages and has warned of legal action against those responsible.
"Regarding the meetings I had with the prime minister, ministers and leaders of various parties, my attention has been drawn to the comments being made in some media and social media," he writes, "Was the arrest of the president of the RSP, Rabi Lamichhane, necessary or was it a political vindictive move?" While this is a matter of debate, the president is in a legal battle. And we are confident that he will get justice through the legal process. Even in the absence of the president, it is our responsibility to carry out the regular work of the party and discuss political issues with the government and leaders of various parties. I am disheartened by the biased propaganda done with ill intentions while fulfilling the responsibility."
Aryal's statement suggests that he is aware of the person who took this image and has hinted that he may have been spied on, warning of legal action against the responsible.
Commenting on the leaked SMS, Aryal writes, "An unauthorized posting of other people's information on social media is against The National Penal (Code) Act, 2017. Section 293 of the same Act lays down a provision that it is illegal to listen and record the speech of another, Section 297 disallows listening to what is said on the telephone, and Section 298 stipulates a provision that privacy should not be violated by electronic means."
It is early to say whether he will pursue legal action or not but if he does, it will not only reveal those involved in the leak but also further deepen the internal divisions within the party.
It is clear that a faction within the party, opposed to Aryal's leadership ambitions, has leaked private communications to undermine his position, especially in Rabi's absence.
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