Within days of the Ujyalo Nepal Party’s (UNP) merger with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), the newly unified force confronts factional issues as it faces questions over the selection of candidates for the proportional representation category of the March elections.
Some of the proposed candidates have withdrawn their names after the party was widely criticised for recommending individuals from well-off backgrounds under the inclusive category meant for underrepresented and underprivileged sections or society.
The Rabi Lamichhane-led RSP and the UNP, which is backed by Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, forged a unity deal on December 29, the final day given by the Election Commission for the parties to submit the list of candidates under the PR category.
But members from the UNP side became unhappy upon knowing the names on the list submitted to the commission.
Amid the discontent in the faction coming from the UNP, leaders from the group visited the Election Commission on Friday to inquire whether it was possible to submit their own list, according to Anup Kumar Updhaya, who chaired UNP before its merger with the RSP.
