South Asian News Network

Chitwan, June 22: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has made amendments to its statute, aiming to make the party more inclusive. According to Ganesh Parajuli, a member of the party’s statute amendment committee, the new amendments provide for the election of three vice-presidents, including at least one woman, along with two general secretaries and five joint general secretaries. Among the joint general secretaries, there shall be at least one woman. The measures are taken to ensure greater representation of women in the party’s leadership, it is said. Likewise, one treasurer, two joint treasurers, one spokesperson, and three joint spokespersons will be nominated. The central committee shall have 151 members, including 99 elected members and one president elected through internal elections, while 51 members shall be nominated by the president through an inclusive process. The vice-presidents from the seven provinces are to serve as ex-officio members. Prior to this, the statute allowed the president to appoint only one treasurer and spokesperson. The new amendments expand this authority, permitting the president to also nominate one vice-president, one general secretary, and two joint general secretaries. ” The amendments have addressed the spirit of inclusion,” Parajuli said, adding that women’s participation has been ensured at all levels. Among the 99 directly elected central committee members, five members will be elected from each province. Of these, at least two from each province must be women. Similarly, based on provincial demographic composition, the statute ensures mandatory inclusive representation: one Indigenous representative each from Gandaki and Koshi provinces, one Dalit representative each from Sudurpaschim and Koshi provinces, one Tharu representative from Lumbini Province, and one Madheshi Dalit representative from Madhesh Province. The statute also ensures the automatic inclusion of senior leaders in the party structure. The closed session of the three-day general convention, which began on Sunday in Chitwan, is being held today. —