Jan 10, Kathmandu - The incident of women leaders who were on a hunger strike to death, accusing them of nepotism and opportunism, being locked up from outside the party's central office, has sparked a serious controversy.

After the party's proportional candidate list was made public, dissatisfied women leaders had started a hunger strike to death at the party office, objecting to the list. They have alleged that the proportional list should be inclusive, fair and based on sacrifice and struggle, but it has been prepared on the basis of access, nepotism and opportunism.

The women leaders have particularly expressed serious objections to the inclusion of Khushbu Oli and the wife of one of the party's vice-chairmen in the proportional list. They allege that women leaders who have been struggling for the party for a long time, have been active in building the organization and have contributed to it, and their names have been included on the basis of family and personal relationships.

They have stated that the women leaders who were on a hunger strike to death at the party office as part of the protest program were locked inside the office with keys from outside. They have expressed strong anger saying that such undemocratic, inhuman and condemnable behavior was used to suppress the peaceful movement.

The women leaders on hunger strike have demanded from the party leadership to immediately correct the proportional list, end nepotism and opportunism, and ensure respectful, equal and fair participation of women within the party. They have also warned that they will not break the hunger strike until their demands are met.

This incident has raised serious questions about internal democracy, women's rights and inclusive politics within the RPP. However, there has been no formal response from the party leadership on this issue so far.