CHITWAN: Voting has officially commenced to elect the new leadership of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) at its ongoing first general convention in Chitwan, amidst high-profile campaigning by ministers and federal MPs.

While Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and Vice-Chairman Swarnim Wagle have already been elected unopposed, intense voting is underway for the remaining contested seats, including a major face-off between Sobita Gautam and Toshima Karki for female Vice-Chair, alongside races for two male Joint General Secretaries and one female Joint General Secretary.

Meanwhile, the battle for the crucial General Secretary position has narrowed down drastically to just four contenders after a powerful wave of institutional consolidation.

In a rapid sequence of last-minute political maneuvering on the convention floor, Ranju Darshana officially withdrew her candidacy to throw her weight behind current Joint General Secretary Bipin Acharya.

Darshana’s exit marks the sixth high-profile withdrawal supporting Acharya, following Pramod Neupane, Ganesh Parajuli, former General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti, Shisir Khanal, and Jagadish Kharel.

This mass withdrawal gives Acharya a decisive advantage as delegates cast their ballots against his three remaining challengers: Manish Jha, Ganesh Karki, and Sagar Dhakal.