RSP: Connecting politics with career and professionalism
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| Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa |
Are you planning to contest elections on a Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) ticket? If so, you now need to prove your ability by completing a course at the Leadership Academy. In RSP, getting a ticket no longer depends on money—you need to pass an exam.
For years, we have witnessed the chaos outside leaders’ doorsteps in the months leading up to elections: briefcases exchanged for tickets and the deep-rooted practices of nepotism and favoritism. This bitter reality of Nepali politics has long been suffered by the people. Now, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has introduced a decision that could shake the very foundation of how election tickets are distributed in Nepal. But what exactly is this Candidate Club and Leadership Academy? What does the Academy teach? And how does RSP intend to stop the broker system and the setting of ticket distribution?
In the upcoming local level elections, any party member wishing to become an RSP candidate will not receive a ticket directly. Before that, they must go through the Candidate Club and Leadership Academy. This means that those aspiring to become ward chairs, mayors, deputy mayors, or municipal chairs and vice-chairs cannot rely solely on their wealth or popularity.
The party’s leadership, under President Rabi Lamichhane, had previously received a draft report titled “Local Level Candidate Selection Framework 2023.” After thorough discussion of this draft, it is clear that RSP aims to connect politics with career and professionalism.
Let’s understand this concept as follows: Just as one needs a license to become a teacher or must pass a medical council exam to become a doctor, those who will live on taxes paid by citizens must also be tested. This is an effort to put an end to factionalism. In traditional parties, tickets are distributed based on which faction a person belongs to or how close they are to central leaders. But if everyone must pass an exam, then merit—or simply put, ability—will matter.
The Leadership Academy is RSP’s training ground for those who want to enter politics. Candidates are taught not just public speaking, but subjects like local government operations, the conduct and ethics expected of a public representative, and many other topics. Once a candidate learns these subjects and passes the exam, they become a member of the Candidate Club—a group of potential candidates. In Nepal’s context, this is a game-changing initiative. So far, we have seen many elected mayors or ward chairs who lack even basic legal knowledge; they sign whatever the chief officer tells them to sign. This happens due to a lack of practical understanding of the subject matter.
Though the elections are about a year away, the ruling RSP has already started preparing. To this end, the RSP coordination meeting has formed a special committee called the *“Local Level Election Candidate Selection Framework and Candidate Club Implementation Committee,”* with R.K. Dhungana as coordinator and federal MPs as members. RSP has also decided to launch the Candidate Club exercise. Keep in mind that RSP is a new party. Unlike the Nepali Congress, UML, or Maoist Centre, it has not yet built a strong organizational network in every neighborhood or ward. In the 2022 general election, proportional representation and direct public contact at the ward and street level proved necessary. That is why, through the Candidate Club, RSP has begun searching for potential leaders in villages now to train them for a year.
Now, let’s discuss a strict directive from RSP that has disrupted the ticket brokerage system. Before elections, many people approach senior leaders, flattering them and promising, “I will get you a ticket.” If any leader or activist is found engaging in the malpractice of promising tickets in exchange for money or favors, they will face punishment. RSP has issued a strong warning: no individual or leader has the authority to distribute tickets.
Let us also analyze elections from a different perspective. First, there is the mindset of our society—many still believe that to win elections, you need money, feasts, and access. But can we guarantee that nepotism, favoritism, or factionalism will never enter the academy? What if the person who passes the exam is prejudiced? Also, many social workers in villages have done great work for the people and are very popular, yet they may not have formal education. Can such people pass the academy’s exam?
Overall, this step by RSP—starting the Candidate Club
practice now—is aimed at the next local and provincial elections. It will
certainly produce more capable and responsible representatives in the future.
What pressure will this create on the older parties? The coming days will tell.
But one thing is certain: if RSP can fully implement this rule, the influence
of money and muscle power in Nepali politics will gradually come to an end.
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