KATHMANDU, July 19 -- Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Manish Jha has stirred political debate once again, this time by reiterating his party's bold vision to streamline Nepal's federal structure - starting with the abolition of provincial assemblies.

Speaking at a program in the capital on Saturday, Jha said RSP's policy does not seek to eliminate provinces altogether but to reinvent their function. "The provinces will remain, but we want to abolish the provincial assemblies," he said. "Instead, representatives from local levels will carry out legislative functions, making the system more efficient and accountable."

The idea, according to Jha, is to bridge the gap between provincial and local governance, cutting duplication and ...