Parsa committee demands Sarawagi's membership be revoked, a day after he joined RSP

The Parsa district secretary of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has demanded that the membership of Birgunj Metropolitan City's former mayor Bijay Kumar Sarawagi be revoked, a day after he joined the party. RSP Parsa secretary Sudip Prajapati put forward this demand on Friday by sending a letter addressed to the party's general secretary and issuing a press release.

The letter states that the membership was granted without informing the district party, and that party ranks in the district disagree with the move. The letter was also copied to the party's organization chief Pramod Neupane.

According to secretary Prajapati, membership number PRS-1-Kha-000435776 was issued in Sarawagi's name through the party's online portal on Thursday. Sarawagi had announced via Facebook the same day that he was giving up all his responsibilities and even his general membership of CPN-UML.

Sarawagi, who had previously been an elected central member of UML, said he chose a new political path after not getting the support he expected within UML. He clarified that he joined RSP as an ordinary member rather than with the aim of becoming a candidate, and that he has no immediate plan to contest an election. His switch of party has stirred discussion in Birgunj's local politics.