KATHMANDU: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has made public its internal guidelines for selecting candidates under the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system. The criteria include leadership ability, political proximity, inclusivity, and performance in internal preliminary elections.

At a press conference held at the party’s central office on Thursday, RSP Deputy General Secretary Bipin Acharya said the new procedure will be used to choose the party’s candidate for the upcoming by-election in Rupandehi-3, scheduled for November 3.

“Rupandehi is the starting point for implementing this candidate selection procedure,” he said. “We will select a candidate who is active in the party, preferred by members and office-bearers, and capable of serving the nation and people effectively.”

Party spokesperson Manish Jha clarified that a candidate’s public acceptability, personality, and competence will be decisive.

According to Jha, the new framework allocates 50% weight to results of internal primaries, 25% to performance at the Leadership Academy, 20% to political proximity, and 5% to inclusivity.

The party will announce its candidate selection schedule within a week.