Kathmandu, Dec 29: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Ujyalo Nepal Party (UNEP) have signed a tripartite agreement on party unification, with Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah acting as a witness.
According to the agreement signed on Tuesday, the unified party will retain the name and election symbol of the Rastriya Swatantra Party. Ravi Lamichhane will remain the central president, while Kulman Ghising will serve as vice-president. Dol Prasad Aryal and Swarnim Wagle will also hold vice-presidential roles.
RSP President Ravi Lamichhane and UNEP Chairperson Anup Kumar Upadhyay signed the memorandum of understanding, which outlines a shared commitment to democratic good governance, prosperity, and social justice under the party’s “Bell” symbol. The document also calls on other reform-oriented and alternative political groups and individuals to join the broader political campaign.
The agreement states that both parties will work to establish equitable governance within a pluralistic democratic system that upholds a liberal economy with social justice, while cooperating to build a new political force.
It cites the sacrifices of martyrs and injured individuals from various people’s movements — including the “Gen-Z movement” of Bhadra 23–24 — as sources of inspiration. The parties pledge to address the concerns of injured citizens and families of martyrs, while internalizing the spirit of youth-led movements against corruption and misgovernance.
The document further commits to a roadmap focused on a self-reliant economy, delivery-based politics, the establishment of a merit-based system, zero tolerance toward corruption, and institutional reforms aimed at transforming Nepal into a respectable middle-income nation within the next decade.
The agreement also states that campaigners, youth activists, and experts from the Ujyalo Nepal Party will be integrated into the unified party structure, with responsibilities assigned on the basis of merit, inclusiveness, and public reputation.
