The Disciplinary Committee (DC) of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Sunday, recommended to the party chairman the expulsion of its seven elected Central Working Committee (CWC) members, including three ministers from ordinary party membership for at least six years.

The party on Saturday had given them 24 hours to furnish explanations but none among the 10 leaders took notice of the leadership’s demand.

As the dissident faction led by recently ousted vice-chairman Padma Sundar Lawati declined to furnish clarification sought by the DC, the DC recommended that the party expel Home Minister Kamal Thapa, assistant ministers Roshan Karki and Bhuvan Pathak, CWC members Lawati, Durga Shrestha, Rajiv Parajuli and Jagat Gauchan on the charge of acting against the party statute by calling a special general convention of the party, a party source revealed.

Joint General Secretary of RPP, Khem Raj Pundit, said that the next move of the party will be announced at 2 p.m. on Monday at the party office, which will also see RPP Chairman Rana announcing his strategy.

Regarding the case of three other nominated CWC members – Toran Bahadur Gurung, Pratap Ram Lohar and Brajesh Kumar Gupta who have been handpicked by the king for his cabinet, the DC has authorized party chairman Pashupati Sumsher Rana to take disciplinary action against them.

The dissident faction is holding special convention of the party on January 10 and 11. However party high command has issued a public notice Saturday that those participating in the special convention will be expelled from party membership.

The row emerged in the party in the issue of whether to participate or not in the municipal polls slated for February 8 next year and support the royal takeover after six members of the party were inducted in the royal cabinet.