Former king Gyanendra Shah has recently intensified political meetings, particularly with leaders of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and RPP Nepal, who advocate for the restoration of monarchy.
The former king returned to Nirmal Niwas on Friday after spending 12 days in the Nagarkot area.
Meanwhile, the “Joint People's Movement Committee,” led by Nawaraj Subedi, announced on May 8 that it would launch a “people's movement” from May 29.
Before the announcement, the former king held discussions with Subedi and others in Nagarkot.
RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden and RPP Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa were also present at the event on May 8, agreeing to join the movement under Subedi's leadership.
The former king also had separate meetings with Lingden and Thapa in Nagarkot before the event.
Monarchists are preparing for an indefinite movement starting May 29. However, they feat the shadow of the violent protest in Tinkune of Kathmandu on March 28 may loom over this movement as well.
In this context, former king Shah has become actively involved in meetings with monarchy supporters.
It has emerged that the former king stayed in Nagarkot for nearly two weeks from April 28—exactly one month after the Tinkune protest—holding meetings and consultations with various monarchy supporters.
From April 20 to May 9, former king Shah stayed at the Soaltee Westend Resort Nagarkot in Changu Narayan Municipality, Bhaktapur, intensifying meetings and deliberations with leaders of the RPP and other pro-monarchy parties.
The former king was accompanied by seven family members and his security team.
Though the trip to Nagarkot was said to be for family refreshment, the former king devoted significant time to political meetings and discussions during his stay there.
According to high-level security sources, except for May 2 (his wedding anniversary), the former king engaged in political meetings every day until May 9.
During this period, he held one-on-one meetings with RPP Chairman Lingden, RPP Nepal Chairman Thapa, “Joint People's Movement Committee”coordinator Subedi and advisor Jagman Gurung, Avenues Television chief Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar, former Nepal Army general Prem Singh Basnet, and others.
The former king also engaged in discussions with second-rung leaders of the RPP.
Security sources say that he had frequent meetings with RPP Joint General Secretary Rabindra Pratap Shah during his stay in Nagarkot.
Rabindra Pratap is a nominated joint general secretary in the RPP. His home is in the Nagarkot area. He was also the RPP's mayoral candidate for Changu Narayan Municipality of Bhaktapur.
Similarly, the former king met with RPP lawmaker Deepak Singh and inspected 42 ropanis of land in Mandan Deupur Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk, registered under the Himani Trust.
During his 12-day stay in Nagarkot, former king Shah played a role in bringing monarchy supporters together.
The effects of this are already becoming visible. Monarchists say it will become even more prominent in the coming days.
After March 28, monarchists are increasingly being seen together. RPP Chairman Lingden, Keshar Bahadur Bista, and others were seen together at an event organized by the Kamal Thapa-led RPP Nepal at Shantibatika in Ratnapark on April 28.
Similarly, the unity among monarchists appeared strong during the event organized by the Subedi-led Joint People's Movement Committee” on May 8 to announce the “people’s movement”.
Leaders including Rajendra Lingden, Kamal Thapa, Keshar Bahadur Bista, and Prakash Chandra Lohani joined hands in an attempt to send a message of unity.
When the “Joint People's Movement Committee” under Subedi’s leadership was announced on March 17, Lingden and RPP Nepal Chairman Thapa were both absent.
That assembly appointed RPP Senior Vice-chairman Rabindra Mishra as the committee's member secretary.
Lingden and others were initially reluctant to accept Subedi's leadership, questioning the decision to put him forward even though he was old and had almost faded into obscurity. The RPP had decided to launch its own movement then.
During their meetings with the former king, RPP leaders also inquired who had proposed Subedi to lead the committee.
Now, former king Shah himself is encouraging the fragmented monarchists to unite. This has visibly energized the monarchists.
RPP Nepal General Secretary Rajaram Bartaula said that the former king's discussions with monarchists focused on Nepal's politics and geopolitical situation.
During the meetings in Nagarkot, the former king expressed concerns about the tensions between India and Pakistan, the country's political and economic conditions, and domestic politics, Bartaula said.
He also inquired whether monarchy supporters could unite and move forward together.
"He asked whether those with similar ideologies were in a position to move forward together? He inquired about how party activities were progressing," Bartaula said. "He also expressed interest in the country's political and geopolitical situation, especially the tensions between India and Pakistan, and the circumstances that could arise from it."
Meanwhile, RPP Senior Vice-chairman Mishra is in police custody for the past 44 days.
After the royalists’ protest led by Durga Prasai, designated “People’s Commander” by the Subedi-led committee, in Tinkune of Kathmandu on March 28 turned violent, Mishra was arrested the same day. The District Police Range, Kathmandu, is investigating him for crimes against the state and organized crime.
As the District Government Attorney's Office is preparing to investigate Mishra for criminal offenses as well, Mishra is likely to remain in custody for an extended period. Police can detain suspects for up to 60 days for investigation in organized crime cases.
During the March 28 protest, Kirtipur's Sabin Maharjan was killed by police gunfire.
Similarly, Avenues TV journalist Suresh Rajak died after protestors set fire to a private house.
Protestors also vandalized over 15 government vehicles, set fire to a herb processing factory, looted Bhatbhateni Supermarket, and damaged private properties.
The pro-monarchy movement has struggled to regain momentum after the incidents.
Meanwhile, they are preparing to launch an indefinite movement from May 29 and former king Shah has also become actively involved.
