Kathmandu, Jan. 12:
Rajeswar Devkota, who says Lokendra Bahadur Chand and his followers joined Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Thapa) on individual ground and that RPP (Chand) with its national status exists as it is, plans soon to constitute the central leadership of the party he heads now.

“We are working on the formation of leadership and it will be finalised soon,” Devkota told journalists toady. He named several leaders who are standing around him and could be included in the central working committee. They include Hem Bahadur Malla, Ms. Chanda Shah, Ganesh Serchan, Parsuram Rai, Jagat Bahadur Gurung and Sonam Chhiring.

Devkota, elected to the party’s presidency on Sunday said the statute of RPP (Chand) has the provision of 41 members in the central working committee.

Devkota, who has been advocating for a broader unity assimilating all nationalist and democratic forces outside Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, however, sees no possibility of uniting with the merged RPP now led by Chand. “Chand and his followers joined RPP (Thapa) on entirely individual basis and RPP (Chand) with the status of a national party remains intact,” he added.

Surya Bahadur Thapa and Lokendra Bahadur Chand on December 30 announced that both factions of RPP had united. Chand held the post of party leadership while Thapa retained the presidency. Devkota who remained outside the merger held that the marriage was far from ideological basis.

Devkota, who is still unaware of who belong to which side in the district committees and the students wing of the party now following Chand’s departure, wants to hold the party convention as soon as possible. The name of the party carrying the title of the leader (Chand) who is no more with the party now, will be probably changed during the convention. Devkota said the name has been retained for legal compulsion.

Asked about the party’s future prospects amidst the poor background having no representation in the House of Representatives, Devkota, a member of the Upper House of Parliament, said his was the party based on certain principle (commitment for nationalism) and it has the potential of flourishing. “We carry the seeds that can sprout and spread,” said Devkota who is also a noted writer.

Devkota alleged Chand of finalising the Mahakali Treaty with India and granting citizenship to foreigners during his tenure as prime minister and said he is unable to take the nationalistic stand. “How can the Treaty work when the status of the Mahakali river itself is not clear?” he asked. He charged that Kalapani which lies to the east of the river, regarded as border, has been encroached.

“Nationalism is our special identity and we want to promote it,” said Devkota. Though we do not challenge the Constitution, we hold the view that there is room for amendment in the document, he added.

Lokendra Bahadur Chand, asked to comment on the charge levelled on him by Devkota, said the unification took place with unanimous consent of his former party. Regarding the status of the party, final decision may come from the Election Commission or the Court, he stated.

RPP spokesman Kamal Thapa said the statement that RPP (Chand) is still intact has no legal and political basis. The Election Commission has already been informed about RPP’s unification and we give no significance to what are being talked about the party’s separate existence, he added.