Will Rabi Lamichhane Be Nepal's Kingmaker? Decoding RSP's Strategy As Oli Steps Down | Exclusive

Last Updated:September 09, 2025, 15:45 IST

Lamichhane’s 21 MPs resigned from Parliament together in what is seen as a calculated step to disrupt Parliament and force a reset

According to sources, Lamichhane’s core appeal lies in his ability to tap into the anger of young Nepalis. (AFP)

The resignation of 21 Members of Parliament from Rabi Lamichhane’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has thrown the already fragile political order of Nepal into deeper uncertainty. The move, widely viewed as a calculated step to disrupt Parliament and force a reset, signals a potential endgame for Nepal’s traditional political elite.

Lamichhane, though currently in prison, has emerged as the undisputed face of a rising political tide. Seen by many as a clean, decisive alternative to Nepal’s aging and scandal-ridden leadership, his influence now stretches from the digital realm to the streets, where protests led by youth and urban professionals mirror a national mood of frustration and restlessness.

Top political sources in Nepal told CNN-News18 that the resignations were not an impulsive act, but part of a strategic plan to either push the country into mid-term elections or provoke a constitutional crisis. In either scenario, Lamichhane and the RSP are positioning themselves to benefit from public disillusionment with the mainstream parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and the Maoists—led respectively by aging figures Sher Bahadur Deuba, KP Sharma Oli, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

According to the sources, Lamichhane’s core appeal lies in his ability to tap into the anger of young Nepalis: students, unemployed youth, and middle-class urbanites. Unlike traditional leaders who are seen as out of touch and entangled in decades of political baggage, Lamichhane is viewed as uncorrupted and authentic. His past as a media figure and his mastery over social platforms allow him to dominate the online discourse and translate digital frustration into physical mobilisation.

His strategy is two-fold: undermine the legitimacy of the old guard while positioning himself as the only democratic alternative with both grassroots and diaspora support. That support, particularly from Nepalis abroad, has grown into not just moral backing but also financial resources that further enhance his political standing.

Political insiders say Lamichhane’s growing acceptability among smaller parties and independents stems from one crucial factor: trust. While many smaller players remain skeptical of the big three’s motives and record, Lamichhane’s image remains untarnished.

The coordinated resignation of Lamichhane’s MPs is being framed by the party as a moral stand against a dysfunctional Parliament. But in reality, it may also be a bold play to regain narrative control, rally the public, and escalate pressure for early elections.

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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