Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is in a fix. It is finding itself at a critical crossroads, whether to move forward with Rabi Lamichhane, or without him. The dilemma is both real and pressing. Several political stakeholders, parties and individuals alike, who could have otherwise helped forming a strong coalition or contributed immense values to the party in individual capacities, remain hesitant to align with RSP as long as Rabi remains at the helm.
There is, however, no denying that Rabi Lamichhane is the very reason the party came into existence. RSP’s extraordinary debut performance was largely fueled by his mass appeal. Even today, he remains the party’s most potent electoral asset and a defining figure if it hopes to perform well in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
Yet, equally undeniable are the controversies that surround him. His checkered past, including issues related to dual passports and citizenship, strained personal and familial relationships, and allegations of financial irregularities involving the cooperative sector and Galaxy TV, continues to haunt his image. While it is true that the state machinery has not treated him fairly, these unresolved matters still cast a shadow on the party’s credibility. The Gen Z activists have clearly dissociated themselves with Rabi and have refused to accept him in their future scheme of things until he comes out clean. Therefore, it's a typical Catch-22 situation for the party as it struggles to strike a delicate balance between conceding to Rabi's past contributions and recognizing the people's future aspirations.
Rabi and the rest of the lot
When compared to the leadership of other major political parties, Rabi’s flaws may seem relatively minor. Nepali Congress is led by a president widely seen as corrupt and inefficient who has repeatedly compromised with the democratic ethics. UML’s leader Oli is arguably one of the most unpopular figures in Nepal’s democratic history, burdened with responsibility for numerous killings, especially during the recent Gen Z protest and countless corruption allegations. Maoist supremo Prachand carries the legacy of a conflict that claimed over 17,000 Nepali lives. Almost every other party head has skeletons in the closet. So why single out Rabi?
The answer lies in what RSP claims to represent, a new brand of politics. If RSP truly wishes to stand apart from the traditional, and tainted political order, it must demonstrate the courage to take difficult but principled decisions. It must “walk the talk.” To put the nation above all else, to forge alliances with like-minded forces, to attract capable and credible individuals, and to build a party that genuinely embodies clean and transformative politics, RSP must act decisively. The moral step for Rabi Lamichhane would be to temporarily step aside until he obtains a clean legal slate. He must have learned his lessons, albeit the hard way, that his excessive zeal to become a deputy prime minister and home minister invited the collective wrath of the consolidated opposition. His cautious approach this time, by sitting on the fence and waiting until the courts set him free, would do a huge favor to his own moral standing. He can make a comeback later as Nepali electorates always enjoy his elevated energy level, high-decibel politics, and capacity to confront adversaries head-on.
Madhesh matters
One of the biggest challenges RSP faces is its inability to make inroads in Madhesh. Going by the numbers from past elections, the party’s performance there has been miserable. Simply leaving the burden of Madhesh politics to Manish Jha will not be enough, though he is working hard. The region demands a sustained presence, cultural sensitivity, and political empathy toward their core demands of federalism, inclusion, and identity. However, RSP is increasingly projecting itself as an anti-Madhesh outfit. Its idea of dealing with devolution by revisiting the concept of federalism hasn't gone down well with the people of the plains. Madheshis have long felt marginalized, and token representation will not resonate with them. RSP must develop a comprehensive strategy for Madhesh, one that combines local leadership cultivation, community integration, and consistent engagement beyond elections. But above all, it has to rework its larger political agenda that is based on numerical details devoid of emotional authenticities.
Departure of Sumana Shrestha
Another concern lies within the party’s internal management. Voices of dissent have begun to grow louder, and the recent departure of one of RSP’s valuable members, Sumana Shrestha, is a telling blow. Her exit is not just the loss of a competent parliamentarian, but also a symbolic blow to the ideals of participatory, ethical politics that RSP once championed. The leadership must introspect and address the internal culture of the party, promoting dialogue over dominance, inclusion over control, and merit over proximity to power.
If RSP fails to nurture and retain its most competent members, it risks replicating the same hierarchical and ego-driven politics that it vowed to replace. RSP is composed of fairly educated, skilled, and self-sufficient workers who may find it difficult to compromise on issues of ethics, principles, and values. The party must remind itself that true reform begins within.
Rabi’s run-away
RSP also faces an unresolved credibility crisis linked to the narrative surrounding Rabi Lamichhane’s release from jail. While his supporters celebrated his comeback as a sign of political resilience, many others perceived it as glorification of defiance against the judicial system. The party has yet to convincingly explain this episode. Even worse, it has done little to separate Rabi’s individual ordeal from the actions of thousands who fled the prison under different circumstances. Many hold him directly responsible for this unprecedented escapade of more than thirteen thousand prisoners breaking out of jail.
RSP must do serious damage control to repair its moral standing. It needs to convey clearly that respect for law and institutions lies at the heart of its ideology. Otherwise, the party risks alienating moderate supporters who seek change within democratic norms, not in defiance of them.
The purple patch
Despite its internal turbulence, RSP deserves credit for shaking the foundations of Nepal’s old political order. It forced traditional parties to take notice of the rising aspirations of younger generations. Nepali Congress, once complacent in its legacy, is now actively considering bringing in a sizable number of younger, educated, and capable leaders through lateral entry. UML and the Maoists, too, are realizing that their old guard leadership can no longer capture the imagination of the youth. RSP also created a platform for scores of fresh leaders who had everything on their side, including academic credentials, a modern mindset, and high integrity quotients, but lacked the legacy of a political family, money power, or proximity to the leadership of the older parties. Their performance in the Parliament was vibrant, forceful, and content-driven. They were successful in raising hope among citizens who were at the brink of losing trust in parliamentary politics itself.
By galvanizing the Gen Z movement and demanding accountability, transparency, and performance, RSP has rekindled faith in participatory democracy. Even if imperfectly, it has revived the dream of alternative politics that values competence over connection, merit over manipulation, and performance over populism.
Swarnim Wagle: The right choice
At a time when Rabi is struggling with his reputation, the other political forces and actors are uncertain to ring the bell, and the party itself is facing acute internal wrangling, the need for an alternate leader has become a reality. Bringing someone from outside and handing over the party to him is not only absurd but also an insult to the existing party honchos. In this transformative journey, Dr Swarnim Wagle, a calm and credible voice, fits the bill to lead the party, at least for now. His reputation for intellectual rigor, policy clarity, and a clean image makes him the ideal figure to guide RSP through its most sensitive phase. His convincing victory in the last parliamentary election, his articulation, and his understanding of complex legislative issues, along with his contributions in the Parliament and in the relevant committees, are testimonies to his leadership skills. Moreover, his self-imposed limitation, that he does not intend to remain in active politics beyond two rounds of parliamentary elections, aligns perfectly with the party’s broader ethos of leadership rotation and renewal.
Under Dr Wagle’s stewardship, RSP can regain the moral high ground and project itself as a credible political force rooted in evidence-based policymaking and principled leadership. His leadership would also reassure those sections of society who currently view RSP as impulsive or personality-centric. The icing on the cake would be his resonance with Gen Z, as he is relatable to them and they would find it easy to communicate with him, maintaining a good wavelength.
The road ahead
RSP was born out of a collective frustration with status-quo politics, with the corruption, complacency, and cynicism that have defined Nepal's political elite for decades. It inspired a generation that had lost faith in politics to once again dream of transformation. But with great expectations comes greater responsibility.
If RSP truly seeks to become a platform for alternative politics, it must focus on three things: grooming quality leadership, cultivating the values of good governance, and upholding the true spirit of democracy where dissent is respected, diversity is celebrated, and power is seen as service, not privilege. The party must move from being a movement of personalities to becoming an institution of principles. Only then can it survive the test of time.
Nepal stands at a political inflection point. The older generation of leaders is losing relevance, and the younger generation is searching for meaning and integrity in politics. RSP has both the opportunity and the responsibility to fill this vacuum, but only if it reclaims its founding ideals of honesty, inclusion, and accountability.
If RSP can act decisively, balancing Rabi Lamichhane's appeal with Swarnim Wagle's credibility, addressing internal discontent, expanding its base in Madhesh, and reaffirming its respect for democratic norms, it can truly emerge as Nepal’s first post-traditional political force.
The time for hesitation is over. The time for correction, reform, and renewal is now. Because in the end, it is not about Rabi, Wagle, or any individual. It is about a nation waiting for genuine leadership, a leadership that always puts Nation First.
(Mr Nishaant is the Founder of Nepal Democracy Foundation. He can be contacted by email at [email protected] or by phone at 977-9851026991.)
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