Sumana Shrestha Quits Rastriya Swatantra Party

Former Education Minister Sumana Shrestha announced Sunday, September 14, that she has quit the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), the fourth largest party in the House of Representatives that was dissolved last Friday in the wake of youth-led protests that left dozens dead and hundreds injured.

Surprisingly, the decision comes just a day after she had stated that she would neither leave the party nor join the interim government.

Shrestha made her decision public through a Facebook post, accusing the party’s leadership of prioritising loyalty over accountability and running “media trials” instead of owning up to mistakes.

“I have been criticising the party ever since it began putting the party above the country and the leader above the party,” reads her post, hinting to RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently in custody over alleged involvement in a cooperative scam and money laundering.

The RSP drew heavy criticism last week when protesters forced authorities to release Lamichhane from Nakhhu Prison as anti-corruption and anti-government protests swept the country. Lamichhane, who claimed he was released to help calm the situation, returned to prison Saturday.

More than 10,000 inmates had fled from jails during the unrest, sparked by a police crackdown on youth-led protests against corruption and the government’s social media ban. While frustration among Gen Z demonstrators fuelled the uprising, several media outlets have reported infiltration by other political groups that allegedly intensified the violence. The death toll from the protests and ensuing chaos has now surpassed 70.

Shrestha also urged younger leaders in all major parties, including the Nepali Congress and UML, to confront their leadership. Youth protesters have been demanding the exit of old, tried, and tested politicians from politics.

“Now is the right time. Stop worshipping your leaders. Either remove them or leave,” she urged.

Shrestha had earlier resigned as the party’s joint general secretary, citing a heavy legislative workload. Elected to Parliament through the proportional representation system in 2022, she served as Education Minister during the premiership of Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Notably, Shrestha was the only RSP leader to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Sushila Karki, who has been appointed to lead the interim government tasked with holding the House of Representatives election within six months.