This story was translated from Nepali. Read the original in Nepali
Kathmandu. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) will run a ‘Palika Abhiyan’ (municipality campaign) in all 753 local units across the country from Asoj 20, with an eye on the upcoming local elections. The party said its members of the House of Representatives and central members will go to local units in all 77 districts after the current session of the Federal Parliament ends.
According to the RSP, the campaign aims to listen to citizens, understand the situation of local governments, and inform people about the party’s plans and upcoming programmes. The party said citizens will also be told about the work done in the six months since the government was formed and about its future plans.
The campaign, launched as preparation for the local elections, appears to give priority to expanding the RSP’s organisation and its presence at the local level. The party has already been expanding its organisation locally and choosing leadership in various local units.
However, as the RSP has presented itself as different from traditional parties and as an alternative political force, its plan to run a campaign focused on local units across the country during election preparations has also sparked political debate.
In particular, the RSP has accused the older parties of visiting villages only at election time, and some have begun comparing its past political claims with its current practice as it mobilises MPs and central members across the country ahead of the polls.
The RSP, however, has described the campaign not as election preparation alone but as a campaign for direct dialogue with citizens, understanding local conditions, and informing people about the government’s work.
