Nawaraj Subedi, who is also the coordinator of the “Joint People's Movement Committee,” has said that the current dispute will not lead to a split in the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).
RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden had removed Subedi from the position of chairman of the party's disciplinary committee on July 9.
Lingden has already appointed Vice-chairman Roshan Karki as the new chairperson of the RPP disciplinary committee.
However, Subedi filed a complaint with the Election Commission on Sunday, claiming that his removal was against the party's statute.
Subedi had formed the “Joint People's Movement Committee” on March 17. At the time, he had announced that he had also relinquished his ordinary membership of the RPP.
"I asked the RPP secretariat whether the chairman had removed me from the discipline committee chair, and after the secretariat confirmed it, I haven’t spoken to the chairman," Subedi told journalists at the Election Commission premises on Sunday noon, adding, "However, this dispute will not split the party."
Subedi also said that the decision to remove him from the position of disciplinary committee chair was made solely by the chairman and not by the central committee.
"I wasn’t consulted before the decision, nor was I given any letter. I learned through the media that he had removed me and appointed someone else," he said, adding, "Internal injustice is about to take place in the party, and I have raised my voice against it."
He also claimed that he had not done anything against party discipline. "What did I do that was against discipline?" he countered.
Subedi said that he filed a complaint with the Election Commission to ensure the party remains strong and free from conspiracies. When asked if this dispute would split the party, Subedi responded, "It won’t split, it won’t split."
He also said that the movement for the restoration of the monarchy had not dissipated. "This is not a movement led solely by the RPP; there are 44/45 organizations involved," he said.
On July 9, Lingden had also removed Sagun Sundar Lawati from the position of party spokesperson. Lawati has also filed a complaint with the Election Commission.
"I am a soldier of the party; I have shed blood and sweat, and our house has been burned," Lawati said. "It’s not just me; in the past, General Secretary Dhawal Shumsher Rana was removed from the organization department without being asked for clarification. Such incidents have happened repeatedly, there has been injustice. We have come to the Election Commission through him (Subedi). This is the third time I’ve been removed," Lawati added.
On Sunday morning, dissatisfied leaders of the RPP, including former party chairman Prakash Chandra Lohani, General Secretaries Dhawal Shumsher Rana and Kunti Shahi, and Nawaraj Subedi, visited the Election Commission.
The disgruntled RPP leaders claim that the decisions to remove Subedi and Lawati from their positions were made unilaterally by Chairman Lingden without the approval of the party’s central committee, violating the party’s statute.
However, Chairman Lingden said that he had appointed officials to assist him in accordance with the party’s statute and warned against non-cooperation.
“As per the statute, the chairman has the authority to nominate vice-chairmen, general secretaries, and others. I made the appointments, so do not obstruct,” he said. “If I have made a mistake, defeat me in the general convention, but don’t hinder my work now.”
The “Joint People's Movement Committee” for the restoration of the monarchy was formed under Subedi’s leadership. The committee launched an indefinite “People's Movement” starting June 29, but the movement has been stalled.
