RPP factions uniting, leaving behind 16-month-long dispute

Online Khabar

Kathmandu, November 18. After a dispute that lasted 16 months, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s fragmented factions are reuniting.

Both Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Pashupati Shamsher Rana had been staking claim on the party’s presidency and running separate working committees.

The dispute had split the parliamentary party of the RPP, which has 12 lawmakers, into two factions. Because of this, the RPP has not been able to send its representatives as ministers in the KP Oli government. Oli had suggested the factions to end the dispute and stake claim on ministerial portfolios.

After several rounds of talks, the factions have agreed on rotating presidency and made way for unity, RPP Central Working Committee member Rajesh Giri informed. The party will be run under rotating presidency till its general convention, Giri said, adding that the new generation will assume leadership after that.

Rana will convene a meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee and propose Lokendra Bahadur Chand as party President.

After a year, Chand will hand over the party presidency to Rana, who will hand it over to Prakash Chandra Lohani, a source said, citing an agreement.

A joint press conference slated for Thursday will announce the unification of the RPP factions and formation of a united party.