Kathmandu, June 26 -- Three years ago, the Rastriya Swatantra Party entered Nepali politics with a bang, so to speak.

The party billed itself as a force different from the traditional parties that, it said, were neck deep in corruption, nepotism, and misgovernance.

The party, formed six months before the 2022 general elections, contested the polls on an anti-status quo, anti-corruption plank. The agenda quickly paid off.

Led by Rabi Lamichhane, a former television host known for putting politicians and bureaucrats on the spot, the party achieved remarkable electoral success, becoming the fourth-largest party in Parliament with 20 seats.

The party's early success also included a victory in the Tanahun by-election held in 2023, extendin...