Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah has reportedly stated that he is neither opposed to federalism nor in favour of restoring Nepal as a Hindu kingdom. His remarks have clarified a question that had remained the subject of widespread public speculation since the March 5 general elections.
During the election campaign, many voters appeared to believe that a government led by Balen Shah would pave the way for the restoration of the Hindu kingdom. Riding on a wave of public frustration with the traditional political establishment, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) emerged as the dominant political force, securing a near two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives. While the party never officially committed itself to restoring the Hindu kingdom, public expectations were shaped by widespread dissatisfaction with the existing political order and the desire for fundamental constitutional change.
Sooner or later, the RSP was expected to clarify its position on these issues. Prime Minister Shah has now done so by publicly distancing his government from the agenda of restoring either the monarchy or the Hindu state.
From the very beginning, we remained skeptical of the assumption that an RSP-led government would pursue such an agenda. The party’s political platform never explicitly endorsed the restoration of the Hindu kingdom. Likewise, the fragmented pro-monarchy and pro-Hindu political forces have so far failed to present a united front capable of mobilising sufficient public support for constitutional change.
Now, if Nepal is ever to witness the restoration of the Hindu kingdom, it is likely to occur only under two possible scenarios. The first would be through a broad-based constitutional and democratic process backed by an overwhelming public mandate. The second would be the emergence of a nationwide popular movement demanding not only the restoration of the monarchy and the Hindu state but also comprehensive political reforms aimed at ensuring good governance, national unity, and institutional stability. Such a movement, however, would require the unification of the numerous pro-monarchy and pro-Hindu groups that are presently divided into competing factions.
We are aware that foreign influence has played a significant role in shaping Nepal’s political transformation since 1990 and followed by the April uprising in 2006. They contend that unless external influence over domestic politics is reduced and a larger section of the Nepali people becomes convinced that the institution of monarchy is essential for safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, independence, and national identity, the prospects for restoring the Hindu kingdom will remain remote.
Nevertheless, public dissatisfaction with governance continues to grow. Corruption, weak service delivery, political instability, and the failure to fulfil electoral promises have steadily eroded public confidence in successive governments. If the present administration follows the same path as its predecessors and fails to address these longstanding concerns, public frustration is likely to intensify.
Whether such public discontent will eventually translate into another nationwide movement—and what objectives such a movement may pursue—remains to be seen. What is certain is that governments cannot ignore the aspirations and frustrations of the people indefinitely.
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