In June 2022, he founded the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). He strategically included “Swatantra”, meaning “independent”, in the name to signal that the party was distinct from the established parties. Second, the party was synonymous with “Rabi” or “Ghanti” — the bell, the party’s election symbol. Many viewed its rise with scepticism, saying it was a fleeting success driven by public frustration with Nepal’s old guard — Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Centre). The party, once synonymous with ‘Rabi’, became synonymous with either ‘Balen’ or ‘Ghanti’, resonating with a larger electorate, beyond party lines.

Source: The Hindu March 07, 2026 20:52 UTC