The maiden General Convention of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has been hit by severe managerial chaos, leaving representatives frustrated and forcing the postponement of the crucial closed session. What was supposed to showcase a modern, tech-savvy party has instead turned into a logistical nightmare in Chitwan, stretching the convention by an additional day.
The trouble intensified on Monday when the closed session—scheduled to begin at 8:30 am to discuss crucial financial, organizational, and political reports—failed to kick off entirely. Hundreds of representatives, who had arrived as early as 7:00 am, spent the entire day under the scorching Chitwan sun, only to be turned back in the evening. Party spokesperson Manish Jha admitted to the managerial lapses, citing technical glitches in representative verification and card printing. Shockingly, the names of 30 sitting MPs were reportedly missing from the initial representatives' list.
Beyond the technical hurdles, insider sources reveal that a fierce internal dispute over youth representation is a major roadblock. Home Minister Sudhan Gurung is leading a strong faction demanding guaranteed central committee seats for 'Gen-Z' (younger generation) representatives. Gen-Z delegates, backed by leaders like Binita Kathayat and Mukesh Kumar Gupta, are pressuring Party President Rabi Lamichhane to allocate at least half of the 51 nominated central committee seats to young, diverse, and grassroots youth activists. They argue that while the party rode to power on the backs of youth, young voices are now being sidelined by senior leaders and MPs.
Conversely, some leaders, including MP Ashish Gajurel, argue that young members should prove their competence through open elections rather than demanding quotas through nominations. According to Joint General Secretary Bipin Acharya, the election of 99 Central Committee members must take place before the President can exercise his right to nominate the remaining 51 members.
With representative adjustments ongoing and internal friction unresolved, the closed session is now rescheduled to begin after 12:00 pm on Tuesday. Meanwhile, representatives—many of whom left their seasonal paddy farming to attend—expressed deep anger over the unexpected delay, which has forced them to bear additional lodging expenses out of their own pockets.
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