RSP fields Krishna Hari Budhathoki for Finance Committee Chair, Finalizes candidates across parliamentary panels

KATHMANDU: The Rastriya Swatantra Party has finalized its candidates for chairpersons of key parliamentary committees, with a strategic focus on the influential Finance Committee, nominating Krishna Hari Budhathoki for the top post.

The decision was taken during a parliamentary party meeting held at Singha Durbar on Thursday afternoon, as the party moves to consolidate its presence in crucial legislative oversight bodies that shape Nepal’s economic governance and policy direction.

Finance Committee in Focus

Among the nine committees where RSP has fielded candidates, the Finance Committee stands out as one of the most powerful, overseeing fiscal policy, taxation frameworks, banking regulation, and overall economic governance. By nominating Budhathoki, a directly elected lawmaker, RSP is signaling its intent to play a more assertive role in shaping Nepal’s financial and economic reforms.

The committee is expected to be central in upcoming debates on budget formulation, public expenditure efficiency, and financial sector regulation—areas where RSP has consistently advocated for transparency, accountability, and structural reform.

Full List of RSP Candidates

Beyond the Finance Committee, RSP has nominated the following candidates for committee leadership:

• State Affairs and Good Governance Committee: Hari Dhakal
• Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee: Samikshya Baskota
• Industry, Commerce, Labour and Consumer Welfare Committee: Rahbar Ansari
• Education, Health and Information Technology Committee: Ojaswi Sherchan
• Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee: Ashok Chaudhary
• International Relations and Tourism Committee: Sumnima Udas
• Women and Social Affairs Committee: Aakriti Awasthi
• Infrastructure Development Committee: Ashish Gajurel

Additionally, RSP has selected Bodhanarayan Shrestha for the Parliamentary Hearing Committee and Ganesh Karki for the committee on Directive Principles, Policies, and State Obligations.

Strategic Positioning and Internal Adjustments

Party sources indicated that except for Hari Dhakal and Ashok Chaudhary, all nominees are first-time lawmakers, reflecting RSP’s push to promote new leadership within parliamentary structures. Among them, Budhathoki’s nomination to the Finance Committee is viewed as particularly significant, given the committee’s influence over Nepal’s economic policy architecture.

The party also made a late adjustment in the Industry Committee nomination after Manisha Jha declined the proposal, leading to the selection of Rahbar Ansari, who is not originally a member of the committee. Parliamentary rules, however, allow cross-committee candidacy with notification to the Speaker.

Election Process Underway

The Parliament Secretariat has set the nomination window for committee chair elections from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Thursday. RSP has chosen not to field a candidate for the Public Accounts Committee, leaving the influential oversight body to the main opposition Nepali Congress.

Economic Policy Implications

Analysts say RSP’s focus on securing the Finance Committee chair reflects its broader agenda of reforming Nepal’s fiscal governance. If elected, Budhathoki is expected to influence key discussions on taxation reform, financial transparency, banking sector oversight, and public spending efficiency—areas critical for investor confidence and macroeconomic stability.

With committee leadership playing a decisive role in legislative scrutiny and policy direction, the outcome of these elections could shape the trajectory of Nepal’s economic reforms and parliamentary effectiveness in the coming years.