KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML, leading the government in coalition with the Nepali Congress (NC), the largest party in the Federal Parliament, is facing mounting pressure to take to the streets, despite being in power.
After opposition republican parties, including the Maoist Center and the Unified Socialist Party, announced their intention to join forces for a movement, the UML, the second-largest party, is now under pressure to act.
The UML, concerned about being sidelined while the Maoist Center and Unified Socialist Party engage the public through protests, has decided to take to the streets as well, even while in government.
The Maoists and Unified Socialist Party are targeting both the royalists and the government, while the ruling UML is preparing to mobilize against the monarchist movement.
With an increase in the activity of pro-monarchy groups in the country, the UML has launched a nationwide public awareness campaign aimed at garnering support for a federal democratic republic.
General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, addressing party leaders in a virtual meeting on Thursday, directed them to implement the program effectively across the country.
The UML will begin its public awareness efforts on March 24, focusing on ward-level campaigns against what it calls “retrograde evil efforts.”
Additionally, the party plans to hold dialogue sessions with civil society and other political parties at the center and district levels in support of a federal democratic republic.
The CPN-UML will organize public demonstrations and awareness meetings in the Kathmandu Valley and districts, excluding Kailali, Surkhet, Rupandehi, Kaski, Parsa, and Jhapa.
In these districts, a motorcycle rally will be held instead. Special meetings are also planned in Dhangadhi, Surkhet, Butwal, Pokhara, Birgunj, and Damak, while the plan for a special meeting in Kathmandu Valley will be decided later.
Meanwhile, the Maoist Center has announced a large protest in Kathmandu on March 28 to counter the royalist rally, which called for the reinstatement of former King Gyanendra Shah.
The Maoists, along with other parties in the Socialist Front, including the Unified Socialist and the Nepal Socialist Party (NSP), will participate in the program.
The Maoists, alarmed by the recent actions of the royalists, have also joined forces with the Socialist Front to resist any attempt to restore the monarchy.
The Front recently interacted with intellectuals in Kathmandu earlier this week, expressing concerns over former King Gyanendra’s efforts to revive the monarchy 17 years after the country became a republic.
The United Socialist Party, led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, is also part of the Front and has formed a central movement coordination committee under General Secretary Ghanashyam Bhusal.
The movement aims to liberate politics from the power struggles surrounding upcoming elections.
Describing the movement as a fight against unemployment and misrule, the party sees it as a campaign for unity and cooperation among revolutionaries to develop national capital and prepare for socialism.
The United Socialist Party has already started its first phase of movement activities, holding discussions within its committees.
A memorandum will be submitted to the government, with public dialogue and suggestions being gathered at the provincial and district levels until mid-Chaitra.
Nepali Congress in relaxed mood
The Nepali Congress, meanwhile, is buoyant as the three parties with republican leftist ideologies in the ruling and opposition camps take to the streets against the monarchists.
However, the party has yet to decide its official stance on the recent activities of the royalists.
However, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba convened a meeting of office bearers at his residence in Budhanilkantha, where they held an informal discussion about the latest activities of the royalists.
Following the meeting, Spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat stated that a general review of the royalists’ recent activities had been conducted.
He also mentioned that the issue would be discussed in the upcoming working committee meeting to determine how to present the matter.
The Nepali Congress has scheduled a central working committee meeting to establish an institutional stance on the royalist movement demanding that former King Gyanendra be reinstated as king for the third time.
Silence in the Rastriya Swatantra Party
While the first party in the Federal Parliament is preparing to decide on an official position and the second and third parties have committed to street protests, the fourth party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has remained silent.
The silence of the RSP, which claims to be a pluralistic democratic party that supports a liberal economy with social justice, regarding the monarchist challenge to the democratic system has raised questions in political circles.
RSP Chair President Rabi Lamichhane, who has focused on building an equitable and inclusive society through accountable governance within a democratic republican system, has not commented on the monarchist movement.
On Friday, Lamichhane acknowledged growing dissatisfaction among the public due to the two-thirds government formed by the Nepali Congress and the UML but refrained from commenting on the monarchist movement.
He also warned that the two-thirds government would falter, telling his supporters, “Get ready for the revolution. The time for me to speak is coming soon.”
Some have speculated that Lamichhane’s silence is linked to the monarchy. Artist and program host Shailesh Shrestha, currently living in Canada, shared memories of Lamichhane’s time in the U.S., suggesting that Lamichhane was associated with royalist circles.
“Our friend Rabi Lamichhane was in the royalist camp while he was in America. We organized protest rallies against the monarchy at the United Nations office and in Washington DC,” Shrestha wrote.
“Rabi was close to the ‘Baltimore Coterie,’ a group of rebellious royalists. Rajaram Poudel openly resisted, but Rabi did not come forward.”
Dr. Mukul Dhakal, the former General Secretary expelled from the party, also portrayed Lamichhane as having royalist sympathies.
Dhakal wrote on Facebook, “Before founding the RSP, Rabi and I discussed whether to support monarchy or republicanism. Rabi visited Jhapa to meet the king and spoke with him and his close associates several times. At that time, he was inclined to support the monarchy.”
A central member of the RSP claimed that the party leadership is currently adopting a “wait and see” strategy regarding the monarchist movement.
The leader suggested that if the public sentiment in favor of the monarchy grows, Lamichhane may choose to align with the monarchists.
“If the atmosphere turns in favor of the monarchy, Lamichhane may take the monarchist stance,” the leader stated. “However, our position against the monarchy is strong within the party.”
RSS parliamentary party deputy leader Biraj Bhakta Shrestha reaffirmed his commitment to the federal democratic republic, saying, “We have no issues with this system. However, the parties themselves have contributed to creating the environment that has brought people to the streets. Its shortcomings need to be seriously reviewed.”
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