Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Vice-president Dol Prasad Aryal said that RSP President Rabi Lamichhane and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah held a “pleasant dialogue” on three topics.
Lamichhane and Shah held discussions for nearly six hours on Monday night. The meeting, which took place at the residence of former RSP lawmaker Asim Shah, continued until around 1:30 a.m. After the meeting, Lamichhane and Shah left Asim Shah’s house in the same vehicle.
We asked RSP Vice-president Aryal, who also participated in the meeting, about the issues discussed during the lengthy meeting.
Aryal said that there were in-depth discussions on recent political developments, the state of political parties, and the upcoming elections during the meeting.
“There were discussions on mainly three issues,” he said. “First, Balen ji, who has recently emerged from mourning the loss of his father, and Rabi ji, who has just returned after spending a long time in jail, had a personal conversation with each other.”
Second, Aryal said, they analyzed the incidents of September 8 and 9 – how they occurred, how to view them, and how they have affected political parties.
Third, he said, there was a positive discussion on the potential collaboration between RSP and Mayor Shah in the election scheduled for March 5, 2026.
“They had a pleasant conversation about collaborating in the upcoming election. We will gradually make its progress public,” Aryal said.
Former RSP lawmaker Asim Shah also described the meeting as a “pleasant beginning.”
Writing on Facebook late Monday night after the meeting, he said: “At last, the story has had a pleasant beginning. Two brothers – Rabi and Balen – have come together. This is not just a union of individuals but a union of the hope the country has been seeking. Congratulations to all of us Nepalis!”
After being released on bail in a cooperative fraud case, Lamichhane has intensified political engagements and has now met Mayor Shah for the second time in the past two days.
According to a source close to Mayor Shah, Lamichhane proposed collaborating in the March 5 general election with Balen Shah as the prime ministerial candidate, separating party leadership and prime ministership.
According to the source, a proposal was also made to merge the RSP and the “Desh Bikas Party,” in which Shah is also involved, while retaining the unified party’s name as RSP.
RSP leader and former lawmaker Shishir Khanal also acknowledged in an interview on Monday that Mayor Shah could be put forward as a prime ministerial candidate.
Speaking to journalist Rupesh Shrestha on Kantipur Television’s Fireside program, Khanal said that RSP sees Shah as a viable candidate.
Asked whether RSP considers Mayor Shah to be a potential candidate for prime minister, Khanal said: “Absolutely. For us, the party president [Rabi Lamichhane] is the natural claimant. Beyond that, Kulman Ghising is also a very naturally choice. Another natural candidate is Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah.”
Rabi, Aryal, and Asim Shah participated from the RSP in Monday night’s meeting, while Kumar Ben, Nischal Basnet, and others participated from Balen Shah’s side.
Lamichhane was released from jail on December 19 after depositing a bank guarantee of Rs 37.48 million at the Rupandehi District Court in Bhairahawa.
A day earlier, Judges Basudev Acharya and Tej Narayan Paudel of the Butwal bench of the Tulsipur High Court had ordered his conditional release.
Lamichhane’s release has cleared the way for him to contest the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5. The House of Representatives Member Election Act does not bar individuals facing court cases from running in elections.
However, even if Lamichhane wins the election, he will not be able to work as a lawmaker or become a minister. Under the law, a suspended lawmaker cannot be appointed as a minister.
Section 27 of the Asset (Money) Laundering Prevention Act, 2008, states that an employee, office-bearer, or public servant is automatically suspended once a money-laundering case is registered against them.
Immediately after returning to Kathmandu following his release on bail, Lamichhane met those injured during the Gen Z movement and the families of martyrs.
On Sunday, an RSP delegation, including Lamichhane, also met Prime Minister Sushila Karki.
