The list of candidates on the closed list submitted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the Election Commission for the proportional representation seat in the House of Representatives is in the process of announcing their withdrawal. As of Saturday evening, five candidates have announced their withdrawal of candidacy.

Mountaineer Tasi Lakpa Sherpa, singer Trishala Gurung, actor and television presenter Asif Shah, industrialist Chandra Dhakal's son Sachin Dhakal, and professor Mahendra Lawati have announced their withdrawal of candidacies. Some candidates have informed party leaders that they will withdraw their names. They will have to file an application with the Election Commission to withdraw their names. The deadline for withdrawal is 28 Pus.

The RSVP was publicly criticized for fielding candidates who have close connections and relatives of leaders, even though the constitution provides for a proportional system to ensure representation of neglected, oppressed classes, communities, and marginalized groups in the House of Representatives.

RSVP spokesperson Manish Jha said that some candidates on the proportional list decided to withdraw their names after public questions were raised. "The withdrawal of those about whom questions are being raised is a reflection of public sentiment," he said.

Jha said that the candidates recommended by the party are Balendra Shah and Kulman Ghising. He also informed that discussions will be held on Sunday regarding those who withdrew their candidacies. Bhupdev Shah, who is involved in negotiations and dialogue on behalf of Balendra Shah in the unity process, informed that discussions are underway on who will be sent to the vacant seat after the withdrawal of candidacy.

‘Preparations are being made to send new names to the same number of the cluster from which the names have been withdrawn,’ he said, ‘There is a plan to send people who can give a good presentation in Parliament after consulting everyone in the party.’

Former RSP MP and Asif’s brother Asif Shah said that Asif Shah withdrew his name to facilitate the party leadership. ‘The name has been withdrawn two steps back so that it will be easier for the leadership to take decisions. We are directly aspiring from Kathmandu-5,’ Asif said. 

Asif, who is at number 1 in the Muslim male ‘cluster’, announced his withdrawal of candidacy through social media. He mentioned that he removed his name from the list respecting public sentiment and the feedback received from the party ranks. Leaders say that the recommendation was made on the proportional list by Asif Balendra Shah. Professor Lawati, who announced the withdrawal of his candidacy, was at number 12 in the Adivasi Janajati Male category of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) party. He was recommended as a proportional candidate from the Ghising faction.

Sachin Dhakal, who withdrew his name from the RSSP proportional list, is the president of Football Club (FC) Chitwan. He is involved in the tourism and hospitality business. He was recommended at number 2 in the Khas Arya Male category. He also became a proportional candidate from Shah's quota. Dhakal has mentioned that he withdrew respecting the essence and norms of the proportional election system provided by the constitution. His father Chandra Dhakal is the president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry. 

The RSSP had also made singer and doctor Trishala Gurung a proportional candidate. Gurung has announced that she has concluded that she will not seek political office after conducting a self-evaluation. She says that she will contribute to the community through art and health services. She was ranked fifth in the indigenous women's 'cluster'. 

Recommended as a proportional candidate for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)  Mountaineer Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, who is also the CEO of 'Forty Peaks Expedition', has announced his withdrawal of candidacy, saying he is not interested in party politics. He was recommended as the ninth number in the indigenous men's 'cluster'. 

Discussion today on the dissatisfaction of the Ghising faction

Leaders of the Kulman Ghising faction had reached the Election Commission on Friday and inquired whether it would be possible to submit a closed list of proportional candidates on behalf of the former Ujjaya Nepal Party. Anup Kumar Upadhyay, who was the then president of the Ujjaya Nepal Party, had reached the Commission. He had said that since he had already paid a deposit of 50,000 to submit the proportional closed list, he should be given an opportunity to submit a separate proportional list. However, the Commission had returned it saying that it was not possible because the time for submitting the closed list had expired.