Kathmandu, March 11 -- As the vote count for the parliamentary elections nears completion, and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in line to bag close to a two-thirds majority, statements made by some party leaders have raised questions over the party's prime ministerial candidate.

The seven-point agreement between the RSP and Balendra (Balen) Shah envisions the former Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayor as the party's prime ministerial candidate. Clause 4 of the agreement states that Rabi Lamichhane would remain the party chair, while Shah would be made the parliamentary party leader and the party's candidate for prime minister.

However, after the election victory, non-committal comments made by party chair Lamichhane and vice-chair DP A...