KATHMANDU: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chair Rajendra Lingden faced tough questions from journalists on Monday after concluding a youth interaction event at Rastriya Sabha Griha, Kathmandu. The event was part of the party’s preparations for a movement to reinstate the monarchy, set to begin on May 29.
As Lingden exited the venue, reporters pressed him about RPP’s past alliance with the ruling CPN-UML. Lingden initially tried to avoid the questions but became visibly irritated and responded.
Though Lingden has recently labeled the KP Sharma Oli-led government as corrupt, he himself won the 2022 election in Jhapa-3 with CPN-UML’s support.
Likewise, RPP had supported Oli in Jhapa-5. After the election, RPP even joined the coalition government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, formed at Oli’s initiative. Lingden briefly served as Energy Minister, but the coalition quickly fell apart.
Later, when a new government was formed in mid-2024 by Nepali Congress and UML, RPP and RSP were excluded—reportedly due to their monarchist and right-wing leanings—leading to worsening ties with both major parties.
Tensions peaked after a violent royalist protest on March 28. With another large rally planned for May 29, Prime Minister Oli has shown growing frustration toward the monarchist movement. As both sides exchange criticism, the atmosphere has turned increasingly hostile.
During Monday’s exchange, journalist Kishor Shrestha asked Lingden how he could criticize the same UML that had helped him win. “You rode on Oli’s back to win—how do you expect people to trust you’ll restore the monarchy?” the journalist challenged.
Lingden responded sharply, claiming that UML had also benefitted from RPP. “Oli became strong with our support. In 2022, Congress and Maoists were allied, leaving UML isolated. They approached us, and we allied to contest the election together,” he explained.
He defended the alliance as a strategic choice under the prevailing political scenario. “We couldn’t win alone against the Congress-Maoist coalition. That’s why we joined forces with UML. But that doesn’t mean we now follow their agenda. We are firm on monarchy and Hindu state.”
Lingden also emphasized that despite their past cooperation, Oli has never supported the monarchy agenda. “We won the election together, but we are now on different paths. Our agenda is clear.”
When asked if RPP might again ally with UML in the 2027 (2084 BS) elections, Lingden avoided a direct answer. “It’s too early to discuss that. Let’s talk about it later,” he said. “Political dynamics change after entering Parliament—even former allies can become rivals.”
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