Pro-monarchist groups in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, staged a mass demonstration on Friday, demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy.
Police used tear gas, batons and water canon against the protesters, many of whom gathered near the national parliament chanting that the king and country were “dearer to us than life.”
Nepal’s monarchy was abolished in 2008 as part of a peace deal that ended a in which more than 16,000 people were killed.
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) organized Friday’s rally, led by entrepreneur Durga Prasai, who called on all pro-royalist, Hindu nationalist, and anti-federalist forces to join the protest.
Prospects of the king’s return
The pro-monarchy movement has gained momentum since last month, after former king Gyanendra Shah hinted at taking a more active role in Nepal’s politics.
In an address on Nepal’s Democracy Day, Shah appealed for public support to “protect the nation, uphold national unity, and strive for prosperity,” accusing the republican leadership of failing to meet public expectations.
On March 9, thousands of supporters welcomed him at Kathmandu airport upon his return from western , escorting him home in a show of monarchist support.
However, the former king’s apparent ambitions and his supporters’ campaign have raised concerns about political instability and deepening divisions between pro-republican and pro-monarchist forces.
On Wednesday, Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli warned, “If anyone tries to hinder the country’s progress or the flow of time, it will not be tolerated.”
Ruling Nepali Congress leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba challenged the former king, 77, to form a political party and contest elections if he wants to gauge his popularity.
The main opposition leader and Chair of CPN (Maoist Center), Pushpa Kamal Dahal, warned that any attempt to reinstate the monarchy would undermine Nepal’s republican achievements.
Local media reports suggest Oli discussed arresting the ex-king should he attempt to incite unrest, but RPP’s senior vice chair, Rabindra Mishra warned that suppressing the movement could fuel further resistance.
Then-Prince Gyanendra Shah ascended the throne in June 2001 after his brother, King Birendra, and much of the immediate royal family were killed in the infamous palace massacre.
In 2005, he dismissed the government and imposed direct rule, restricting fundamental rights for 16 months, before ceding power in 2006.
Nepalis still recall how his gamble ultimately led to the downfall of the 240-year-old Shah dynasty through a Constituent Assembly vote in 2008, which was dominated by former Maoist rebels.
The case for restoration
Following his removal, the deposed king remained in Nepal limiting his engagement to occasional public appeals.
However, public dissatisfaction with successive governments, political instability, economic stagnation, and failure to deliver on democratic promises have rekindled interest in the monarchy. Since the king’s removal, Nepal has had 13 governments in 16 years.
The most recent elections, , resulted in a hung parliament with over a dozen political parties in the House, leading to frequent government changes and instability.
Yubaraj Ghimire, editor-in-chief of news website Dessanchar.com, argues that the groundwork has been laid for the monarchy’s reinstatement.
“The current constitution has failed in implementing federalism effectively, and growing public frustration with corruption and misgovernance is strengthening pro-monarchist sentiment,” he told DW.
RPP’s Mishra attributes the movement’s rise to geopolitical shifts and Nepal’s internal instability.
“On one hand, Nepal is for India, and, most recently, Russia,” he told DW. “The institution of monarchy would ensure a sense of national unity for all Nepalis.”
Mishra argued that the monarchy’s removal was undemocratic and that public opinion has shifted significantly since Nepal became a republic. Restoring it, he claims, would uphold human rights, respect people’s sovereignty and ensure multiparty democracy.
Challenges to monarchy’s revival
Not everyone sees the restoration of the monarchy as a viable option.
Political analyst CD Bhatta describes the situation as a clash between old and new social contracts. The monarchy, unitary governance, and a Hindu state defined Nepal’s past, while federalism, secularism, and republicanism shape its present, he said.
“Secularism is perceived as anti-Hindu, federalism has failed to devolve power effectively, and republicanism has merely replaced monarchy with entrenched political elites,” Bhatta told DW.
However, Bhatta noted that public frustration provides an opportunity for royalists to regain influence.
“People feel disillusioned by the political elite, leading to nostalgia for the monarchy,” he said, adding that the pro-monarchy movement lacks new, credible leadership.
Ushakiran Timsena, a youth leader of the UML, dismisses the idea of a royal comeback, “given the ex-king’s age and his past actions.
“However, our own republican leadership’s poor governance is making people reconsider monarchy,” she told DW.
While Nepal’s political landscape remains uncertain, many believe the monarchy’s fate depends on whether anti-establishment sentiment continues to grow.
“Nepalis are desperate for real change,” Bhatta said. “But neither the republican nor royalist forces currently offer a credible alternative.”
Edited by: Keith Walker
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