The National Independent Party has decided to conduct its ward and municipal conferences in two phases during the month of Jestha, focusing on its first General Convention. According to the party’s bylaws, the Central Committee will consist of 129 members, with a mandatory 33 percent female representation. Preparations are underway to establish elected committees at six levels: central, provincial, district, electoral constituency, municipality, and ward through the General Convention.
April 10, Kathmandu – The National Independent Party (RASWAPA) is focusing on its first General Convention. The convention, originally scheduled for Falgun, was postponed due to elections. The party is now mobilizing its organizational structure to hold the convention on a date to be announced. The party has decided to conduct ward and municipal conferences in two stages. Assemblies for wards that have not yet formed committees are scheduled for Jestha 2, while wards with committees established before April 20 will hold their conferences on Jestha 3, according to party spokesperson Manish Jhaka. The secretariat meeting decided that municipalities with committees formed before April 25 will hold their conferences on Jestha 10. Remaining ward committees established before Jestha 3 are required to hold their conferences by Jestha 16, and municipalities with committees formed before Jestha 10 are set to conduct their conferences on Jestha 17.
District assemblies are scheduled for Jestha 23 and 24. However, dates for provincial and central General Conventions have not yet been decided. The bylaws mandate that the General Convention must be announced at least six months prior. The Central Committee can only set the date after the Election Commission recommends holding the convention. Party leaders have indicated preparations to hold the first General Convention in Bhadra or Ashwin.
The decision to hold the General Convention six months after the elections was made at the extended meeting in Sauraha, scheduling the event in Bhadra. With the start of ward conferences, the process for the central General Convention has also begun. Although ward conferences had started before the elections, the election process disrupted the schedule. According to the party’s Election Commission, 452 wards and 62 municipalities had held their conferences before the elections. Post-election, more than 200 ward conferences are ongoing, Election Commission Secretary Bhuminanda Baral stated. Baral added that ward-level conferences are proceeding rapidly, with a goal to complete all within three weeks. Conferences are being held in all districts except Bara. To conduct higher-level conferences, lower-level structures must have completed their meetings. If lower-level conferences are not held, the Central Committee holds the authority to conduct upper-level conferences. According to bylaws, the party is preparing to hold the Central General Convention even if some structures have postponed their conferences. Leaders mentioned that RASWAPA is moving to fast-track the central General Convention.
After forming provisional committees, conferences are being conducted at the lower levels to mobilize party structures, a member of the Organization Department said. Several structures have been dissolved and provisional committees formed in some areas to include the faction supporting Prime Minister Balendra Shah. The Organization Department member stated, “District committees are being dissolved to form provisional committees representing both factions, with preparations underway to hold conferences immediately.” Although Prime Minister Shah’s faction is represented at the central level, integration at lower levels is still ongoing.
How Many Representatives Will Attend the General Convention?
Central Committee members will automatically serve as representatives at the National General Convention. Office bearers from the Central Advisory Council, Disciplinary Commission, Audit Commission, and Election Commission will participate. From the central departments, 11 members including the heads will be selected, with 33 percent female representation compulsory. Members of both houses of the federal parliament and provincial assemblies will serve as automatic delegates. Since RASWAPA has no representation in the National Assembly or Provincial Assemblies, members of the House of Representatives will be convention delegates.
According to the amended bylaws, the Central Committee will have 129 members, while the current committee has 92 members, all of whom are automatic delegates. Officers of provincial committees and their disciplinary, audit, and election commissions will be delegates. When selecting three representatives from provincial departments, one must be female. The district committees will elect five members, including one woman. The head of the Kathmandu District Coordination Department is also a delegate. Under the Federal House of Representatives area committee, coordinators and deputy coordinators from electoral constituencies will be appointed as representatives. The Overseas Nepalese Coordination Department from various country branches will send up to 11 delegates. At the municipal level, chairpersons will serve as representatives.
The municipal convention is empowered by bylaws to select delegates according to party membership numbers: one delegate from rural municipalities with over 201 members, two from municipalities with over 401 members, three from sub-metropolitan municipalities with over 501 members, and four from metropolitan municipalities with over 701 members. The municipal mayor and deputy mayor are automatic General Convention delegates. Five delegates, including a coordinator, from the central Disaster, Relief, and Rescue Task Force (RAT) will also be included.
Elected Committee Structures
The General Convention will establish elected committees at six levels: central, provincial, district, electoral constituency, municipality, and ward. Chairpersons at each level must secure more than 50 percent of votes from the delegates. The central executive will comprise 13 office bearers, including the chairperson, three vice-chairpersons (including females), one general secretary, three co-general secretaries (including both men and women), treasurer, co-treasurer, spokesperson, and co-spokespersons. Currently, RASWAPA has one senior leader and one vice-chairperson along with two general secretaries. Central office bearers will be elected at the General Convention, while the chairperson will nominate the treasurer, co-treasurer, and spokespersons. Twenty-five Secretariat members will also be appointed by the chairperson. The 129-member Central Committee must comprise at least one-third women and youth as prioritized by the bylaws.
The provincial committees will comprise seven members, including a chairperson, vice-chairperson, general secretary, treasurer, and spokesperson. The size of the seven provincial committees varies: Koshi 61, Madhesh 59, Bagmati 65, Gandaki 47, Lumbini 57, Karnali 41, and Sudurpaschim 43 members. The treasurer and spokesperson will be nominated based on the recommendation of the provincial chairperson. District committees will elect their chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, co-secretary, inclusive members, and one representative per federal parliamentary constituency. The district chairperson can nominate one treasurer. Each electoral constituency will have a seven-member committee, consisting of a coordinator, two vice-coordinators from two provincial constituencies, secretary, and members elected accordingly.
At the municipal level, elected committees will include 11 members in rural municipalities, 15 in municipalities, 21 in sub-metropolitan municipalities, and 25 in metropolitan municipalities. The municipal treasurer will be nominated on the recommendation of the municipal chairperson. The municipal executive will include one chairperson, one vice-chairperson, one secretary, one co-secretary, one treasurer, and girl members to ensure gender balance. Ward committees can range from a minimum of three to a maximum of 11 members, including one chairperson, one vice-chairperson, one secretary, and six members elected by representatives. The bylaws grant the elected ward committee the authority to nominate two additional members from party members. In a full 11-member ward committee, four women members are mandatory, including at least one Dalit woman.
