The Rastriya Swatantra Party, the fourth largest party in the Parliament, has decided to leave the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government. The party entered the Parliament from the November 20 elections. The Rastriya Swatantra Party joined the government along with the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister on January 26.

The Supreme Court stripped party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane of all posts on January 27 saying that he didn’t have valid Nepali citizenship.

Two days after he reacquired the Nepali citizenship, Lamichhane demanded that he be appointed as the Home Minister again. But, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed his reluctance to appoint him as the Home Minister. A Central Committee meeting of the party held on Sunday decided to leave the government. The meeting, however, decided not to withdraw the support extended to the government. With the decision, Labor Minister Prasad Aryal, Education Minister Shishir Khanal and State Minister for Health Toshima Karki will tender their resignation from the government.