The election schedule of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has been affected by the inability to finalize the list of general convention delegates.
According to the original schedule, the election was supposed to begin on Monday, but it appears unlikely to take place even on Tuesday.
Ram Gurung, deputy chief of the party’s central election commission, said that the election schedule was affected as it was taking time to investigate claims and objections regarding the delegates.
"It has already been delayed by a day. Currently, identity cards are being distributed to the delegates. The closed session may start in an hour or two, and the duration of the session may also be extended," he told journalists. "We have revised and published the schedule for the closed session. It is unlikely that the election will start today."
According to the new schedule published by the commission, information and the timetable regarding the election will be released only after 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
In the closed session starting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Ramakanta Rimal will first present the disciplinary commission's report on behalf of the commission. At 2:30 p.m, Treasurer Lima Adhikari will present the party’s financial report.
General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti will present the organizational report at 3 p.m., which is expected to be followed by detailed discussions among the delegates regarding these reports.
At 3:45 PM, Joint General Secretary Bipin Acharya will present the statute amendment proposal passed by the central committee, which will then be endorsed by the closed session.
Vice-chairman Swarnim Wagle is scheduled to present the party's key economic and political proposal, considered the party’s guiding principle, at 4:45 p.m.
Party President Rabi Lamichhane is scheduled to present his political report at 5:15 p.m.
In the final stage of the closed session, Lamichhane will announce the formation of an interim management committee at 6:35 p.m., and the organizing committee will hand over all its responsibilities to the election commission.
Once the handover is complete, the election commission will release information and the schedule for the election process to select new leadership.
Meanwhile, the number of general convention delegates has exceeded 4,300. Temporary identity cards are currently being distributed to them.
According to Bodh Narayan Shrestha, chief of the party’s organization department, temporary cards are being issued after issues were found with the QR codes on the previously printed cards. These temporary cards will not have QR codes.
Shrestha said that this arrangement was made for the closed session starting at 2 p.m.
"New identity cards with QR codes will be distributed for the election," he said.
Meanwhile, the final verification of the list of general convention delegates is ongoing. People are still arriving with forms for claims and objections, citing discrepancies in the names. They have been advised to file complaints regarding missing names at the organization department.
Some delegates who were on the list on Monday are missing now, and in other cases, some have been assigned the same membership number.
Shrestha said that the process of correcting such errors is underway.
