Rabi Lamichhane issues 12-point directive to RSP MPs, Emphasizes governance discipline, anti-privilege politics and policy focus

KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman and Member of Parliament Rabi Lamichhane has issued a detailed 12-point directive to party lawmakers, outlining operational discipline, governance priorities, and the party’s political stance on key national issues.

The briefing was held at the party’s parliamentary office in Singha Durbar, where Lamichhane instructed MPs to focus on legislative responsibilities, institutional coordination, and public service delivery while avoiding political privilege and procedural overreach.

Focus on Governance and Institutional Coordination

Lamichhane emphasized regular structured interaction between MPs and ministers, including ministry-level discussions involving secretaries, to improve coordination and policy execution.

He also stressed that while MPs may engage across different levels of governance, their primary constitutional responsibility remains lawmaking—not administrative interference or executive substitution.

“The role of lawmakers is to create laws, not become the law themselves,” he noted, according to party sources.

Anti-Elite Messaging and Party Identity

Reiterating the party’s ideological positioning, Lamichhane stated that RSP is not a platform for those seeking power and privilege, but rather for public servants and facilitators of governance.

The directive underscores the party’s ongoing effort to distinguish itself from traditional political structures by promoting service-oriented political culture and accountability-driven leadership.

Policy Monitoring and Public Grievance System

Lawmakers were instructed to strengthen the effectiveness of the government grievance platform, commonly referred to as “Hello Government,” by ensuring better tracking of complaints and real-time monitoring of state responses.

This aligns with broader governance digitization efforts aimed at improving transparency and citizen engagement.

Social Issues and Legislative Priorities

The directive also touches on sensitive social issues, including caste-based discrimination linked to inter-caste marriage cases. MPs were instructed to support preventive legal and social interventions while maintaining parliamentary decorum and avoiding emotional overreach in field situations.

Migration, Inflation and Vulnerable Communities

Lamichhane acknowledged external economic pressures, including global conflict-related market disruptions, and noted their impact on domestic price levels.

He also addressed the issue of informal settlements, particularly populations living in high-risk zones such as riverbanks and drainage areas, stressing that relocation and resettlement policies must be implemented humanely and systematically.

The party reiterated support for establishing a dedicated commission to address nationwide informal settlement management, while ensuring that no citizen is rendered homeless in the process.

Position on Ordinances and Institutional Reform

A significant portion of the directive focused on government ordinances, where Lamichhane criticized past practices of politicized appointments and misuse of legislative tools.

He argued that current reforms are aimed at correcting institutional distortions rather than targeting political opponents or providing selective advantages.

The party also pointed to historical precedents in parliamentary committee leadership appointments to justify its current institutional approach.

Administrative Vacancies and Governance Delays

The directive highlighted concerns over vacancies in constitutional bodies and regulatory institutions, stating that prolonged inaction is affecting decision-making efficiency and public service delivery.

Lamichhane called for a balance between procedural caution and “constructive political assertiveness” to ensure timely governance outcomes.

Internal Party Discipline and Expansion Strategy

MPs were also instructed to actively contribute to party organization building while maintaining discipline and accountability.

Lamichhane made it clear that participation and responsibility within the party structure would be based on demonstrated commitment and performance rather than positional expectation.

He added that internal dialogue would remain continuous and that he would remain accessible to lawmakers for coordination and facilitation when required.

Political Signal

The 12-point directive reflects RSP’s attempt to institutionalize internal discipline while projecting a governance-focused political identity amid Nepal’s evolving parliamentary landscape.