Nepal’s Monarchy Revival Faces Long Odds Despite Oli’s India Claims”
Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has recently claimed that India is involved in the growing pro-monarchy movement in Nepal, alleging a foreign hand in efforts to reinstate the monarchy, which was abolished in 2008. This statement comes amid a surge of public demonstrations in March 2025, where thousands rallied in Kathmandu to support former King Gyanendra Shah, expressing frustration with the current republic’s political instability, corruption, and economic struggles. Oli has vowed to “expose” India’s alleged role in Nepal’s Parliament, though no concrete evidence has been publicly presented as of now.
The pro-monarchy sentiment has been fueled by dissatisfaction with the federal democratic republic established after the monarchy’s end. Since 2008, Nepal has seen 13 different governments, reflecting chronic instability. Many citizens, like Kulraj Shrestha, who once opposed the monarchy but now support it, point to rampant corruption and unfulfilled promises as reasons for this shift. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), a Hindu nationalist group, has been a key player in advocating for a constitutional monarchy and the restoration of Nepal as a Hindu state, a status it held until it became secular in 2007.
Tagline: “A Kingdom’s Echo Amid a Republic’s Struggles”
However, the likelihood of a Hindu monarchy returning in Nepal remains low. Oli, a nationalist leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), has consistently dismissed the possibility, stating on March 7, 2025, that “reinstatement of monarchy is simply not possible.” Major political parties, including the Nepali Congress and the CPN-Maoist Centre, also staunchly back the republic, viewing the monarchy as a relic of an autocratic past. Gyanendra’s history—taking absolute power in 2005, only to be ousted by the 2006 People’s Movement—further weakens his case among political elites.
India’s alleged involvement, as claimed by Oli, has been met with skepticism and denials. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently refuted any role in the royalist movement, emphasizing India’s interest in a stable Nepal rather than a specific form of government. Historical ties between Nepal’s royals and India, including cultural links like those with the Gorakhnath Peeth led by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, have been cited by some as circumstantial evidence, but these connections don’t substantiate direct interference. Oli’s accusation may reflect domestic political maneuvering, as he has a history of leveraging anti-India sentiment to bolster his nationalist credentials, such as during the 2020 border map dispute.
For a Hindu monarchy to return, Nepal would need a constitutional overhaul, requiring broad legislative support that currently doesn’t exist. While public frustration is real—evidenced by rallies of 10,000 to 15,000 people—the movement lacks the institutional backing or legal framework to succeed. Gyanendra himself has remained ambiguous, calling for unity but not explicitly pushing for restoration, possibly gauging the movement’s strength.
