Rastriya Swatantra Party faces internal friction in Nepal

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which holds 182 seats in Nepal's House of Representatives, is facing internal tensions between Party President Rabi Lamichhane and Prime Minister Balendra Shah. While no formal split has occurred, the government is increasingly perceived as two competing camps due to disputes over organizational appointments, statute amendments, and policy direction.

Friction has been highlighted by public remarks, including a social media post by Prime Minister Shah stating, “sometimes you have to fight alone,” and comments from Lamichhane suggesting he would intervene if the government strayed from its path.

In addition to internal politics, the administration faces scrutiny over its 100-day agenda, controversial statements regarding land encroachment near India, and a budget criticized for favoring the middle class and business community over marginalized groups. Public frustration has also been fueled by several cases of self-immolation linked to unemployment and poverty.