KATHMANDU, Nov 6: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which came to power promising political reform and institutional accountability, is increasingly facing questions about its internal cohesion and its relationship with the government it leads.
Contradictory positions taken by party leaders and the government led by Balendra Shah over major decisions have exposed a growing disconnect between the two centres of authority. The controversy surrounding the removal of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Bahadur Karki and the appointment of Dr. Manoj KC as his successor has brought these differences into sharp focus.
Government Spokesperson Sasmit Pokhrel claimed that Karki's removal was decided at the party's direction. RSP Spokesperson Jagadish Kharel, however, rejected the claim, saying the party had neither been consulted nor instructed the government to remove or appoint the police chief.
The conflicting accounts raise a fundamental question: who is making consequential decisions within the ruling establishment? If the government acted on the party's instructions, why is the party distancing itself from the decision? And if it was unaware, does this suggest that the government is operating independently of the political organisation that brought it to power?
RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, speaking to journalists in Chitwan on Thursday, said the government would have to justify its decision and that the party could seek clarification. Prime Minister Balendra Shah and Home Minister Sudan Gurung have reportedly played active roles in Karki's removal, but neither has offered a comprehensive public explanation.
No factionalism in RSP: Rabi Lamichhane
The episode has fuelled speculation about emerging power centres around Shah and Lamichhane. While there is no definitive evidence of formal factional divisions, increasingly divergent public positions have raised questions about coordination and accountability.
The irony is difficult to overlook. The RSP built its political appeal by criticising traditional parties for internal rivalries and competing power centres. It now faces similar questions about its own political management.
Opposition finds common ground
While the ruling establishment appears increasingly divided, opposition parties are beginning to find common ground over the government's recent actions.
Controversies involving alleged links between senior judicial figures and middlemen, action against journalists reporting on the issue, and the removal of the police chief have brought otherwise ideologically diverse opposition parties closer together.
The Nepali Congress (NC), the main opposition party, held a meeting of its office-bearers to discuss the government's actions and the broader political situation on Thursday. Relations between RSP Chairman Lamichhane and NC President Gagan Thapa are reportedly improving, although ties between Prime Minister Shah and Thapa remain strained.
The recent summons issued to NC Joint General Secretary Ajay Babu Shiwakoti by the Cyber Bureau over a complaint alleging personal attacks on an individual's character has further heightened opposition concerns.
The concerns extend beyond the NC. The CPN-UML, Shram Sanskriti Party, Nepali Communist Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party have also questioned the government's working style, particularly its handling of state institutions and exercise of executive authority.
Opposition parties have raised concerns about political retaliation, arbitrary decisions and interference in independent institutions. They have called for Parliament to be convened to scrutinise the government's actions, warning that continued disregard for constitutional procedures could trigger street protests.
Although this convergence does not yet amount to a coordinated political alliance, it signals a growing willingness among opposition parties to challenge the government's conduct on shared institutional concerns. Their common ground centres on protecting institutional independence, upholding due process and ensuring accountability in the exercise of executive power.
This growing opposition pressure comes at a time when the RSP is also grappling with questions about its internal cohesion. The party faces a twofold challenge: managing differences within its ranks while addressing mounting concerns over its government's conduct. Disagreements within a party or between a party and its government do not necessarily signal a crisis. However, contradictory explanations over major decisions risk undermining accountability and public confidence.
Having secured a five-year electoral mandate in March, the RSP has an obligation to uphold constitutional procedures, strengthen institutions and ensure transparent decision-making. Ultimately, its credibility will depend on whether its governing practices live up to the standards it once demanded of traditional parties.
