Kathmandu- Rastriya Swotantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane has briefed the party’s secretariat on the breakdown of the unification process with the Ujyaalo Nepal Party, as the two sides formally moved in separate political directions.
An emergency meeting of the RSP secretariat, held virtually, discussed the latest developments surrounding the failed unity attempt. At the outset of the meeting, Lamichhane presented details of the recent demands raised by the Kulman Ghising–led faction, which, according to party sources, ultimately led the RSP to halt the process.
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Meeting sources confirmed that the RSP secretariat has decided not to ratify the unity agreement earlier reached with the Ujyaalo Nepal Party. Senior leader Balen Shah is also said to have agreed with this decision.
“New proposals kept coming every day. After repeated demands for additional shares and positions, it became clear that moving forward was no longer possible,” a source quoted Lamichhane as saying during the meeting.
Dispute over posts and proportional representation
The unity process reportedly collapsed after the two parties failed to reach consensus on the distribution of office-bearer positions and central committee memberships. While an earlier understanding had proposed appointing Kulman Ghising as vice-president within the RSP framework, disagreements intensified during subsequent power-sharing talks.
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Ujyaalo Nepal has accused the RSP of failing to implement the agreed framework for proportional representation candidates. In contrast, the RSP leadership maintains that Ghising retreated from the original agreement by introducing fresh conditions at a later stage.
Kulman Ghising appointed Ujyaalo Nepal chair
Following the collapse of unity talks, Ujyaalo Nepal Party has appointed Kulman Ghising as its chairman. Party spokesperson Dr. Raju Thapa said a formal announcement would be made following an emergency central committee meeting.
When Ujyaalo Nepal was initially registered with the Election Commission, Anup Upadhyaya was listed as chairman. The change in leadership comes immediately after the breakdown of negotiations with the RSP.
An emergency meeting of the Ujyaalo Nepal central committee has been called for 4 pm on Saturday, after which Ghising is expected to address the media through a press conference.
Parallel political moves
The developments mark a decisive rupture between the two emerging political forces, both of which had projected the unity process as a step toward consolidating alternative politics. With the agreement now effectively abandoned, both parties are preparing to chart independent courses ahead of the upcoming elections.
Within the RSP, leaders have framed the decision as necessary to maintain organizational clarity and avoid prolonged uncertainty. On the Ujyaalo Nepal side, the leadership change and emergency meetings signal an effort to stabilize the party after the failed merger.
As political realignments continue ahead of the polls, the collapse of the RSP–Ujyaalo Nepal unity underscores the fragility of alliance-building among Nepal’s newer political actors.
