KATHMADU: Former King Gyanendra Shah, who arrived in Pokhara with his family on February 9 via a chartered Summit Air flight, is set to return to Kathmandu on Sunday after a month-long stay.
While he has visited Pokhara multiple times in the past, this visit has drawn significant political attention due to his public statements and activities, which have sparked discussions on the monarchy’s potential return.
During his stay, Shah delivered a 10-minute, 27-second video message on February 18, Democracy Day, making his most direct appeal yet regarding a potential return to power.
In his speech, he hinted his willingness to return to the throne and framed his role as essential for Nepal’s unity and progress. He stated that he had made sacrifices in the past for the nation and was willing to do so again if necessary. He further called on the people to support him, saying that national unity must be preserved for Nepal’s prosperity.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the state of Nepal’s democracy, he said that democracy could not succeed with rhetoric alone and required service-oriented leadership, ethical governance, and national unity.
He also voiced concerns about the erasure of Nepal’s history, youth migration, economic decline, and increasing public discontent, arguing that these issues were signs of a failing system. His message resonated with many of his supporters, who see the monarchy as a stabilizing force.
His statements have forced major political parties to react. Leaders of the Nepali Congress, UML, and other mainstream parties have reiterated that monarchy will not return under any circumstances.
Some leaders have even suggested that if Shah wishes to engage in politics, he should form a party and contest elections. The frequency of their responses indicates that his activities have unsettled the political establishment, making them address an issue that had long seemed resolved.
Unlike his previous visits, this time Shah actively participated in various public and religious programs, strengthening his presence among the people.
On March 6, he unveiled a statue of King Birendra at Birendra Chowk in Pokhara, an event that the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) used to showcase its support for the monarchy.
He also visited the Bindhyavasini Temple, where he was greeted by enthusiastic supporters, including not only RPP members but also cadres from the Nepali Congress and UML. His walk from Ganesh Temple to Bindhyavasini Temple, during which he was welcomed with garlands and flowers, was seen as a symbolic show of strength.
During his stay, he also visited Alamdevi Temple in Syangja, the ancestral temple of the Shah dynasty, where supporters gathered along the way to welcome him. His religious engagements continued with a visit to Kalika Temple in Baglung, coinciding with the hospitalization of his son Paras Shah due to a heart attack in Kathmandu. Despite this, Shah remained in Pokhara, where he also celebrated his daughter’s birthday at a restaurant, attended by Paras after his recovery.
Beyond public appearances, Shah held several closed-door meetings at Morning Glory Resort, where he was staying. These meetings were attended by business figures from Pokhara and surrounding areas, as well as leaders and cadres of the RPP party. He engaged with cultural and religious figures, further reinforcing his support base among traditionalist groups.
Before leaving Pokhara, Shah even hosted a farewell party at Morning Glory Resort on Saturday night. The event was attended by cultural scholars, religious representatives, and political figures, including leaders from the RPP.
Representatives from religious organizations such as Alamdevi in Syangja, Kalika in Baglung, Galeshwor Temple in Myagdi, and Dharmadaya Sabha in Pokhara were also present, underscoring the former king’s ties to religious and cultural institutions.
Shah’s month-long stay in Pokhara has reinvigorated discussions about the monarchy’s role in Nepal. While mainstream political leaders continue to dismiss the possibility of a return to monarchy, his activities and growing public interactions indicate that monarchist sentiments remain alive in certain sections of society.
His presence in Pokhara, marked by symbolic actions and increasing public support, suggests an effort to test the waters and mobilize his base.
As he returns to Kathmandu, the political ripple created by his visit raises questions about whether this momentum will fade or develop into a more organized push for monarchist revival.
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