KATHMANDU: Nava Raj Subedi, a central working committee member and chair of the central disciplinary committee of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), has announced his departure from the party.
In an event held in the capital on Monday, Subedi declared that he was leaving the RPP to become independent, following instructions from former king Gyanendra to lead the movement for the restoration of the monarchy.
Along with leaving the party, Subedi has formed a new ‘Joint People’s Movement Committee for the Restoration of Monarchy’ with activist Durga Prasai, aiming to revive the monarchy in Nepal.
The newly formed committee includes key members such as Rajendra Lingden, Kamal Thapa, and others, though some members, including Lingden and Thapa, have clarified they will not be part of this initiative.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party president Rajendra Lingden and party figures like Kamal Thapa and Keshar Bahadur Bist have stated they will not participate in the committee, as it was formed without consultation with the party.
Lingden mentioned that while the party would support any movement for the restoration of the monarchy, it would not officially participate in such independent efforts.
Rajaram Bartaula, General Secretary of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal, has expressed support for Subedi’s movement but clarified that the party had not been consulted before the committee’s formation.
Subedi, who attended a central meeting of RPP on Sunday, invited Lingden to the gathering at the restaurant, where the announcement of his departure was made.
However, Lingden declined to attend, sending party representatives instead.
Despite this, the RPP has expressed support for the general movement towards the restoration of the monarchy, as long as it is led by youth.
RPP MP Gyanendra Shahi referred to Subedi’s departure as similar to ‘the new Tulsi Giri,’ a reference to a past royalist leader, emphasizing that the youth should lead such movements.
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