Kathmandu : The Rastriya Swatantra Party has officially announced its candidates for the by-elections scheduled for April 23—party chair Rabi Lamichhane will contest the by-election from Chitwan-2, economist Swarnim Wagle from Tanahun-1 and former senior police officer Ramesh Kharel from Bara-2.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Kathmandu on Saturday, economist Wagle, who announced on Thursday that he was quitting the Nepali Congress to join RSP, said that it’s high time one entered politics for delivery. He added it is time to change the decades-old practice wherein elderly leaders who had languished in jails for years are rewarded with coveted positions in return for their years-long political struggle.

Representing the constituency of President Ramchandra Paudel indicates the tipping point in the paradigm shift, added Wagle. He also accused traditional parties of engaging in the ‘malpractice of buying and selling election tickets’ which, he said, is promoting bad governance in the country.

“The agenda of prosperity will be dimmed if the focus of the elected leaders is shifted towards recovering the money that was spent in their expensive elections,” Wagle said. “We need to put an end to the role of money, which is hampering good governance.”

On Thursday, Wagle had announced his dissociation from the Congress allegedly due to ‘constant humiliation’ by the party chief Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife Arzu Rana Deuba.

Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane while addressing the press conference claimed that his party will become the largest and most democratic party.

“Many other capable and meritorious personalities are in touch with us to join our party,” Lamichhane said. “We will form a two-thirds majority government and ‘subject experts’ will lead the ministries. Corruption and bribery will come to an end.”