CHITWAN: An all-night, eight-hour effort led by Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane to select office bearers through consensus at the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) first general convention in Chitwan has failed.

The influx of candidates surged after the first-round results, as leaders who secured high popular votes in the Central Committee aspired for top leadership roles.

Party leaders expressed frustration that aspirants refused to withdraw unless promised alternative responsibilities, leading Lamichhane to leave the venue in disappointment around 6:00 AM.

Meanwhile, representatives—exhausted from waiting for six days under the scorching sun—strongly pressured the leadership to either forge an immediate consensus or proceed directly to an election, while also questioning the Election Commission’s management.

While Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and Swarnim Wagle (Vice Chairman) have been elected unopposed, elections are yet to begin for the remaining five key office-bearer positions.

In the highly anticipated race for female Vice Chair, a direct battle is set between Toshima Karki and Sobita Gautam after Sameeksha Baskota withdrew and leadership pressure failed to sway the remaining two.

For the crucial General Secretary post, 9 candidates remain in the fray—Kabindra Burlakoti, Pramod Neupane, Manish Jha, Rajunath Pandey, Ranju Darshana, Ganesh Karki, Ganesh Parajuli, Sagar Dhakal, and Bipin Kumar Acharya—following the withdrawals of Shisir Khanal and Jagadish Kharel.

Additionally, 11 candidates are competing for two open Joint General Secretary positions, while 5 candidates are vying for the single female Joint General Secretary seat.

The Central Election Commission is currently finalizing the technical review of the preliminary list to publish the final names, but the prolonged delays have already caused a large number of convention delegates to return home before the casting of ballots could begin.