Kathmandu , – Kusum Maharjan, a central committee member of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has formally submitted a request to the party to remove her name from the proportional representation (PR) list of the House of Representatives.
According to party spokesperson Manish Jha, Maharjan’s application has been received and will be discussed during the RSP secretariat meeting scheduled for 3:00 p.m. today. “This is a procedural matter. Her request will be reviewed in today’s meeting,” Jha said.
Maharjan stated that her intention behind withdrawing from the PR list is to potentially contest the upcoming by-election in Rupandehi-3 as a direct candidate. Nepal’s election law prohibits individuals on the PR list from contesting under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system.
“This is not just a personal desire—it’s a step taken after consultations within the party,” Maharjan said. “RSP is gaining popularity across the country, and we’re seeing strong support in Rupandehi-3 as well. I’m committed to contributing wherever the party finds it strategic.”
A permanent resident of Siddharthanagar Municipality–8 in Rupandehi District, Maharjan currently resides in Kathmandu for business reasons. She has also expressed willingness to run in the election if nominated.
RSP Candidate Selection Process and Upcoming By-election
Meanwhile, RSP spokesperson Jha reiterated that the candidate selection process will strictly follow the party’s internal guidelines. “She may certainly have aspirations and might be aligning her legal position accordingly. But the final decision will be made as per the party’s established procedures. We remain fully committed to the process,” he said.
The RSP announced the call for candidates on July 23 for the by-election scheduled for November 3. Interested individuals were asked to submit their applications by August 6. Jha noted that approximately ten applications are expected.
The internal selection process will begin after the application deadline. “We will follow every provision outlined in our candidate selection protocol. Since this is a new and important initiative, we are determined to maintain full integrity and transparency,” Jha added.
The RSP has appointed Deputy General Secretary and Lumbini Province in-charge Bipin Kumar Acharya to lead all operations related to the Rupandehi-3 by-election. Acharya also led the task force responsible for drafting the candidate selection guidelines.
