Thapa to lead the new party after merger of RPP and RJP

KATHMANDU: Senior leader of Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) Surya Bahadur Thapa will lead the party after the unification of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and RJP.

Speaking at the Reporters’ Club on Wednesday, Rana revealed that the RPP and the RJP have reached an understanding to lead the party on a rotational basis. “Surya Bahadur Thapa will head the party first as per the agreement,” he added.

He added that his new party will contest in the upcoming Constituent Assembly election under Thapa’s leadership, the five-time prime minister.

To give final touch to the party unification, the two parties are scheduled to hold a joint convention in the Capital from May 17 to 20. Rana further revealed that his party will also adopt the collective leadership, for which the party will form a 13-member presidium.

Rana also said that his party was not in favor of monarchy and ruled out the chances of reverting back to the same.” We want to institutionalize the Federal Democratic Republic,” said Rana. However, Rana said that his party can collaborate with the Kamal Thapa-led Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal during the elections. RPP-Nepal failed to merge with two parties as the party remained firm to the line of constitutional monarchy.