The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which had sent a 14-member delegation on a 10-day visit to China, has now seen the return of all its members amid growing concerns of party president Rabi Lamichhane's potential arrest in connection with a cooperative fraud scandal. The remaining six members of the delegation, who had stayed back after an earlier recall, landed in Kathmandu this morning on an Air China flight via Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

The delegation had been invited by the International Department of the Communist Party of China and had just arrived in Guangzhou when news broke that Lamichhane could be arrested due to his involvement in the cooperative fraud case. Acting swiftly, Lamichhane ordered the delegation to return home immediately, cutting short the planned visit. While eight members, including RSP vice-president Swornim Wagle, returned yesterday, the remaining six followed suit today.

Among those who returned today were MPs Shishir Khanal, Asim Shah, and Shiva Nepali, along with central committee members Prakash Bisht, Nisha Mehta, and Khushbu Sarkar Shrestha. Shishir Khanal also serves as a member of the Parliamentary Special Investigation Committee, which had recommended legal action against several individuals involved in the embezzlement scandal at Gorkha Media Network. The committee’s report implicated GB Rai, the chairman of the company, and Rabi Lamichhane, who had previously served as its managing director. As a result, former DIG Chhabilal Joshi was arrested last Sunday, triggering widespread speculation that Lamichhane could be next in line for legal action.

This growing fear of Lamichhane's arrest has reportedly caused unrest within the RSP, prompting the hasty return of its leaders from the China trip. While Lamichhane remains free as of Friday, party insiders are preparing for the possibility of him being taken into custody.

In this scenario, vice-president Swornim Wagle, a prominent figure within the party, is seen as the likely candidate to take over leadership duties. Wagle, who played a key role in leading the delegation to China, posted a reflective message on Facebook 21 hours ago:

"Leading a 14-member delegation from the RSP under the friendly invitation of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, we have returned to Nepal today. The visit was marked by great respect for RSP as an emerging force in Nepal, along with personal satisfaction and confidence. Though initially planned for nine days, we decided to shorten the stay due to the political developments in Nepal. The rest will be shared during a press conference on Sunday at 2:30 PM, at the party headquarters, Banasthali."

As the political situation unfolds, speculation is rife that Wagle may be asked to step in as interim leader should Lamichhane face legal repercussions. Wagle, known for his intellectual stature and organizational skills, could provide a stabilizing presence for the party in what would be a critical moment for RSP's future.