KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane on Friday appointed seven office-bearers and assigned responsibilities to department heads, the secretariat and central committee members.

However, the party left two key positions-vice-chair and general secretary-vacant.

The vacancies are significant as both posts are widely seen as positions reserved for the group led by senior RSP leader and Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

Party leaders say the appointments are also important for strengthening coordination between the party and the government.

The names of potential candidates for both positions have already emerged. However, party insiders say Lamichhane is waiting for Shah’s group to finalize its choices.

Shah is considering Sunil Lamsal for vice-chair, while Home Minister Sudhan Gurung has also expressed interest in the position. Gurung has argued that he deserves a key party role after working closely with both Lamichhane and Shah in recent months.

For general secretary, Bhupdev Shah is seen as the leading candidate, although Sudip Dhakal is also reportedly in contention.

Gurung, Lamsal and Bhupdev Shah were among those appointed as central committee members on Friday.

RSP General Secretary Bipin Acharya said appointments to the vice-chair, general secretary, co-spokesperson and joint treasurer positions remain pending.

“We are moving step by step,” Acharya said, adding that the party had first appointed a senior leader and then seven office-bearers, along with department heads, secretariat members and central committee members.

He dismissed speculation that the process had been delayed because of multiple competing claims, saying the remaining appointments would be made gradually.

RSP held its first general convention in Chitwan from June 21 to 26, electing 99 central committee members, two vice-chairs, one general secretary and three joint general secretaries through direct elections. Under the party statute, the central committee will have 151 members, with the chairperson authorized to nominate 12 office-bearers and 51 members.

The Friday meeting also drew attention because Shah, who was appointed senior leader on July 28, did not attend. Instead, he left Kathmandu by road for Pokhara early in the morning.

His absence fueled speculation that the two vacant posts were being held for his group. Acharya, however, said Shah’s attendance was not mandatory because a senior leader participates in central committee meetings as an invitee rather than as a regular central committee member.