RSP to support RPP candidate for deputy speaker

Manoj Satyal

Kathmandu, April 9

Rabi Lamichhane (left) and Gyanendra Shahi

The ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is set to support the opposition Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) for the post of deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

RSP President Rabi Lamichhane called RPP parliamentary party leader Gyanendra Shahi to convey that his party would support the RPP in the deputy speaker election.

"The RSP president called and said, 'Go ahead and file your candidacy for the post of deputy speaker; you will have our support,'" Shahi told Setopati.

RSP Vice-president Dol Prasad Aryal was elected speaker unopposed on April 5.

Since the speaker and deputy speaker cannot be from the same political party, the RSP is backing the RPP for the vacant post.

Nominations for the deputy speaker position are being filed on Thursday.

The RPP has five lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

The party is preparing to field Saraswati Tamang as its candidate for deputy speaker. She is the wife of leader Buddhiman Tamang and was elected to Parliament through the proportional representation system.