Kathmandu: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Sah (Balen) have reached an agreement to move forward under a broader political unity ahead of the upcoming House of Representatives elections.

The seven-point agreement was finalized on Sunday morning following continuous dialogue between RSP President Rabi Lamichhane and Mayor Sah over the past week, including overnight discussions.

Under the agreement, Rabi Lamichhane will continue as the central president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, while Mayor Sah will be nominated as the parliamentary party leader and the party’s candidate for prime minister after the elections. Both sides signed the agreement on Sunday morning.

Party Structure and Identity
According to the agreement, the unified party will continue to operate under the name Rastriya Swatantra Party. The party’s existing blue flag and the election symbol ‘bell’ will also remain unchanged. It has been agreed that the party’s organizational documents will be updated accordingly at the Election Commission.

Commitment to Reform and Development
The agreement states that the unified force will take ownership of the youth-led movement against corruption and misgovernance, while committing to address the concerns of the injured and families of those who lost their lives during the movement. It also outlines a shared commitment to honestly implement a roadmap aimed at transforming Nepal into a respectable middle-income country within the next ten years through policy, institutional and structural reforms focused on social justice and economic upliftment.

Organizational Expansion and Merit-Based Roles
Following the unification, both sides have agreed to strengthen and expand the party’s organizational structure by assigning responsibilities to young activists and experienced experts based on competence, inclusiveness and public credibility. The unity has also called on other alternative and reform-oriented political forces to come together on the shared agenda of democratic good governance and social justice.

Political Implications
The consolidation of alternative political forces under a single election symbol is expected to pose a significant challenge to traditional political parties in the upcoming elections. Observers note that the combination of Mayor Sah’s administrative style and Lamichhane’s political outreach could attract a considerable segment of young and independent voters.

While the agreement has generated optimism among supporters of alternative politics, leaders involved acknowledge that managing coordination and sustaining unity among diverse personalities will be a key test in the run-up to the elections. Nonetheless, the agreement has been viewed as a signal of renewed momentum for political change in the country.