Sumana Shrestha, joint general secretary of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has resigned from her party position.

Shrestha, who is also a member of the House of Representatives, said she would continue to fulfil her parliamentary responsibilities despite stepping down from the party role.

Speaking to Kantipur, the Post’s sister publication, Shrestha said she had submitted her resignation to party chair Rabi Lamichhane 15 days ago.

The party’s central committee will decide whether or not to accept her resignation following internal discussions.

She had tendered her resignation when Lamichhane returned to the position of party chair.

Party insiders said Shrestha had been travelling to various parts of the country without informing the party leadership, raising eyebrows among party officials. After questions were raised within the party over her activities and her attempts to build a separate team, she is said to have offered to step down from the party leadership.

During the party meeting held on April 1, Lamichhane had reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of support from party officials during his time in police custody. He had also indicated that some internal restructuring was imminent.

Leaders close to Lamichhane have reportedly been unhappy with Shrestha’s role in the party in recent months, and her resignation has been linked to growing tensions between her and the party leadership.