RPP dissidents move to EC against Chair Lingden

KATHMANDU: Internal conflict within the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has escalated, with senior leader Nawaraj Subedi filing a complaint at the Election Commission against party chairman Rajendra Lingden’s recent actions.

Subedi, who was removed from the party’s disciplinary committee, claims the decision was illegitimate and that he remains an active member of the party.

Subedi was accompanied by other dissatisfied leaders, including current General Secretary Dhawal Shamsher Rana and former party chair and directive committee head Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani.

They have collectively accused Chairman Lingden of violating the party’s statute and running the organization unilaterally.

The complaint follows a separate gathering held by the dissident faction on Saturday, where leaders condemned Lingden’s recent decisions and resolved to challenge them through formal legal channels.

The group alleges that Lingden bypassed mandatory procedures outlined in the party constitution, such as seeking approval from the central committee before making organizational changes.

Lingden had dismissed Subedi from his post in the disciplinary committee, citing that Subedi was no longer a member of the RPP. In his place, Roshan Karki was appointed.

The chairman’s justification was based on Subedi’s public declaration—during a press event after leading the newly formed pro-monarchy Joint People’s Movement Committee—that he was resigning from general membership of the RPP.

However, Subedi contends that while he made a verbal announcement, he never submitted a formal written resignation, and thus his membership remains valid.