KATHMANDU: Former chair of the Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti), Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, said Rabi Lamichhane should be released from prison by some means.

Addressing the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) “Comprehensive Political Dialogue” held in Kathmandu on Friday, Bhattarai said he signed in support because he felt there had been an injustice against Rabi.

Bhattarai said it would be better for Rabi to face his case while outside custody.

“I believe it would be fairer if he could confront the charges from outside. His abilities and talents could then be put to use,” he said.

He urged leaders of other parties present to reach minimal consensus and form a single party.

He called on figures such as CK Raut, Swarnim Wagle, and Resham Chaudhary to rally together under a unified front.

“Let us somehow get Rabi out of prison. We need his leadership,” Bhattarai said, adding that if collective teams were formed — including CK Raut, Swarnim Wagle, and Resham Chaudhary — the traditional parties would not be able to deceive the public.

He argued that the old parties have cheated and impoverished the people, and that uniting would free Nepalis from that plight and provide a genuine alternative.

Bhattarai said all parties that claim to be new or alternative must come together to defeat the Nepali Congress–Communist bloc.

He warned that Nepali Congress and the communist parties have deep roots; while those roots are strong, he implied that coordinated pressure could unsettle them and bring about change.