Raja Shakya Wins First Kathmandu District Presidency for Rastriya Swatantra Party

The Rastriya Swatantra Party has marked a new organizational milestone in Kathmandu, with Raja Shakya elected as president of its Kathmandu District Committee during the party’s first district convention. Shakya secured 251 votes, defeating rival Suresh Sapkota in Saturday’s election.

The convention also produced a full district leadership slate, with Rabindra Gautam elected vice-president, Santaman Maharjan chosen as secretary, and Saurav Basnet named joint-secretary. Out of 528 eligible voters, 438 votes were cast, showing a relatively strong level of participation in the internal vote.

The result gives the Rastriya Swatantra Party an important local structure in Nepal’s capital, where organizational strength can play a major role in party visibility, mobilization, and future election readiness. While the contest was internal, the turnout and competitive result suggest an active district base as the party continues to build its presence in Kathmandu.

What the vote means

Internal district conventions like this one are often more than just routine party elections. They help shape who will coordinate grassroots organization, manage local outreach, and represent the party in one of the country’s most politically important districts.

For the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the Kathmandu leadership team now has the task of turning this first district convention into a durable political network. In practical terms, that means strengthening coordination across wards, improving membership engagement, and preparing for future electoral battles in the capital.

Why Kathmandu matters

Kathmandu remains one of the most watched political arenas in Nepal, and leadership contests there can attract attention beyond the district itself. A successful internal election can signal momentum, organization, and a willingness to formalize party structures at the local level.

Shakya’s victory, combined with the election of the rest of the committee, gives the party a clearer chain of leadership in the district as it continues to expand its footprint. The final vote count also suggests that the contest was active enough to produce a decisive outcome without overwhelming dominance from either side.