Nepal’s political divide: What's driving the push to restore the monarchy

Nepal is witnessing escalating pro-monarchy protests, with demonstrators demanding the restoration of the monarchy and its status as a Hindu kingdom. The protests, which turned violent on Friday, resulted in the deaths of two people and left several others injured in Kathmandu.

In the country’s House of Representatives, intense exchanges were witnessed over the issue, which centres on the monarchy abolished in 2008 following violent protests against King Gyanendra Shah.

On Monday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli accused the former king of “attempting to disrupt social harmony and create division” in the country. During a session in the House of Representatives, Oli claimed that Gyanendra Shah had aligned with certain individuals, refused to repay bank loans, and was inciting unrest to further his own ambitions.

Kathmandu also saw fresh demonstrations on Monday led by the Rashtriya Prajatantrik Party, a constitutional monarchist and Hindu nationalist political group in Nepal.

Protesters, waving flags including the crimson double-triangle flag—symbolising defiance and national pride—are demanding the return of the former king, describing the protests as “organic”.

In response, the government has arrested several pro-monarchy activists for allegedly instigating violence during Friday's protests.

Pro-monarchy demonstrators are now calling for their release. At the same time, counter “pro-democracy” rallies are being held, further intensifying the political divide in Nepal.

Pro-monarchy sentiments resurface after 17 years

Seventeen years ago, protests against King Gyanendra Shah in 2006 forced him to relinquish power, culminating in the end of Nepal’s dynastic monarchy in 2008.

This marked a significant shift as Nepal chose to become a secular republic. However, 17 years later, pro-monarchy protesters are calling for the return of the former king and the restoration of Hinduism as the state religion.

The resurgence of these demands is said to be driven by “frustration over political and economic instability in the country.” The scaling back of King Gyanendra’s security has only intensified these sentiments, fueling further calls for his return to power.

Since the monarchy was abolished, Nepal has seen multiple changes in government, but pro-monarchy groups argue that the people are disillusioned by persistent “political instability and corruption” and the “failure of successive governments to deliver meaningful changes in the system.”

What’s happening now

On Friday, pro-monarchy protesters gathered in Kathmandu for what was initially intended to be a peaceful rally organised by an alliance of groups supporting the former king.

However, the demonstration quickly turned violent, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and several others, including both protesters and police officers, being injured. In the aftermath of the clashes, a curfew was imposed in the area to restore order.

Simultaneously, thousands of people gathered in support of the current government system. Opposition members, including Maoists—who fought an armed rebellion from 1996 to 2006 to oust the monarchy—argue that the return of the monarchy is “impossible.”

Nepal’s ruling coalition, including the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist and Nepali Congress, is also calling for the arrest of the former king. However, the demand has been met with resistance from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which has accused the government of using “excessive force” in dealing with the pro-monarchy protests.

Monarchy in Nepal

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev ascended the throne in 2002 following the tragic palace massacre that took the lives of his elder brother, King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah, and most of his family.

Reigning as the king from 2001 to 2008, Gyanendra Shah was the last monarch of Nepal. Initially, he served as a ceremonial head without executive or political power. However, in 2005, amid growing instability, he assumed absolute power in an effort to defeat the anti-monarchy Maoist rebels.

However, massive street protests forced him to relinquish power to a multi-party government, which later signed a peace agreement with the Maoists.

He reinstated Parliament, but in 2008, the first session of the Constituent Assembly deposed him, declaring Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic. This decision ended the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy and transformed Nepal into a secular republic.