KATHMANDU, Oct 16: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has unveiled its “Candidate Selection Framework, 2026” for the upcoming local-level elections, aiming to make the candidate selection process scientific, objective, transparent and participatory.
Under the framework, the party has set four criteria for selecting candidates. Primary voting among party members carries the highest weight at 40 percent. Training at the leadership academy and political affiliation and background have been assigned 25 percent each, while inclusivity accounts for the remaining 10 percent.
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The party has also introduced a provision allowing the use of special discretionary powers in candidate selection. The Secretariat may exercise such powers of up to 15 percent, subject to approval by the Central Committee, when selecting candidates for the positions of mayor, deputy mayor and ward chairperson in rural municipalities, municipalities and sub-metropolitan cities, as well as mayor, deputy mayor, ward chairperson and ward member in metropolitan cities.
In exceptional circumstances requiring candidate selection outside the prescribed procedures, the decision must be approved by at least a two-thirds majority of all members currently serving on the party’s Central Committee.
The framework also makes the “Candidate Club,” leadership academy and an alternative format of primary elections mandatory components of the candidate selection process.