As internal power struggle unravels, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal is set to write to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday to sack Assistant Minister for Local Development and Federal Affairs Biraj Bista, making him the second party official to face action within two weeks.

The Central Working Committee of the party had, on Friday, directed Bista to resign from the post assessing that he had acted against the party’s interest, a charge Bista denies. The party has accused him of misusing his authority to enlist support for his father Keshar Bahadur Bista, the RPP-Nepal co-chair who was sacked two weeks ago.

Confirming the decision, RPP-Nepal Assistant Spokesperson Mohan Shrestha said: “He has not followed the directive. Chairman Kamal Thapa will write to the PM on Sunday to sack him.”

“The party’s decision has saddened me. I have always worked for the party’s good,” said Assistant Minister Bista, hinting that he will not resign from the post. The PM can sack a minister if his party so requests. The Bista family has been critical of party Chairman and Deputy PM Kamal Thapa, charging him with centralising power and running the party in an autocratic manner. Keshar has often raised questions about Thapa’s act of centralising all power, according to party sources. He had also criticised the leadership for sacrificing the party’s principles of Hindu state and constitutional monarchy by joining the incumbent government.

Junior Bista has also been openly advocating reinstating Hindu state and constitutional monarchy. Addressing a corner meet before Narayanhiti Palace Museum on Saturday, he said constitutional monarchy and Hindu state were the country’s 

identity. He blamed the party leadership for deviating from the party’s principles for personal gains.