Santosh Kafle: Our loyalties are with Nepali people

Santosh Kafle, a computer engineer by profession, is a member of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)’s Bagmati province chapter. He also heads the Corruption Prevention and Good Governance Department of the chapter. Pratik Ghimire of ApEx caught up with Kafle to know about RSP’s recent engagements and the party’s thoughts on recent political developments. Excerpts:

What is RSP’s ‘Mission84’?

Due to the persistent incompetence of major political parties, Nepalis became increasingly fed up and frustrated, leading to the emergence of RSP. With the formation of RSP, people finally had an alternative in the elections, offering hope for improvement.

As a newly established party, we appreciate the seats we’ve secured in the parliament. However, these are insufficient to adequately address the issues facing our people, as we lack the ability to independently form a government. We are now eagerly anticipating the upcoming general elections scheduled for 2084 BS, aiming to secure a majority and govern independently. Our focused efforts in preparation for this event are encapsulated in what we call ‘Mission84’.

What is going on with the general convention of the party?

We are actively engaged in building the party organization. Typically, for a party’s general convention, the process involves the election of members from wards, followed by municipalities and the central committee. However, as a new party, we took a different approach by initially forming the central committee and subsequently initiating the formation of lower committees. With the exception of a few ward committees, almost all the groundwork for the party's organizational structure has been completed.

Within this month, we will commence the process of the general convention by electing members from local committees, gradually culminating in the election of the central committee. This approach mirrors a bottom-up methodology. The entire process of the general convention is projected to conclude by July 2024, by which time the party will have elected its leadership.

Does the party take itself as an alternative force?

If one considers the current political parties as the mainstream force, then indeed, we are an alternative force, representing an alternative to the existing parties. People have increasingly viewed us as a viable alternative to the established parties. However, despite being perceived as an alternative force, we’ve already gained considerable traction as a mainstream party, holding the position as the fourth-largest force in the national parliament. Following the successful execution of ‘Mission84’, we anticipate ascending to the status of a major mainstream party.

How often do central leaders of your party engage with local-level leaders and the public?

Every member of our party, along with local leaders, holds a key to access the office of our party president, ensuring constant accessibility. Our party president and other central leaders consistently remain available and approachable. We conduct regular training programs for local leaders, with the active participation of central leaders, fostering an environment to cultivate competent leaders. The central leadership maintains an optimistic outlook regarding the development of capable leaders within our ranks.

Recently, RSP organized ‘Door-to-door’ and ‘Thank you’ programs, part of our ongoing engagement with the public. Such initiatives are integral to our commitment to staying connected with the commoners. These programs also serve as reminders of our grassroots connections. Nepalis place significant hope in us, and we remain committed to standing by their side, understanding their needs, and continuing this unwavering support.

RSP stands steadfastly available whenever Nepalis require our assistance. We aim to be with them in their joys and sorrows, contributing to restoring their hope for progress and development. While some may currently support us due to their dissatisfaction with other parties, we are determined not to engage in sentiment-based politics. Our focus is on demonstrating our capabilities and working earnestly for the people.

Despite some perceiving our public engagements as mere publicity stunts, we prioritize being present among the people and addressing their concerns. If this engagement is considered a stunt, we gladly accept that label, intending to continue these efforts. We encourage other parties to adopt similar approaches for the benefit of the public.

Our lawmakers maintain strong connections with the public and local leaders. They frequently engage with us, seeking suggestions and input. They actively liaise with the people, conduct research on their problems and advocate for their issues in the parliament. The presence of our lawmakers has notably shifted parliamentary practices toward a more fact-based approach in recent times.

Where do you find RSP in the clash between Republicans and Royalists?

The recent conflict, in my view, isn’t primarily about the Republicans versus the Royalists. It appears to be more centered on a dispute between CPN-UML and the Royalists, specifically involving Mahesh Basnet and Durga Prasai. Our party president Rabi Lamichhane has explicitly stated that RSP stands for the resolution of issues affecting the people. Therefore, our party aligns with Prasai’s stance on matters concerning the people’s concerns. Whether it’s individuals associated with UML, Nepali Congress or CPN (Maoist Center), we support those who raise people's issues. As for Prasai's political affiliations, we remain indifferent.

RSP’s ideology is rooted in constitutional socialism, signifying our unwavering support for the constitution of Nepal. We do not stand against Nepal’s constitutional framework or its system.