Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The rift between Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairperson Rajendra Lingden and RPP Nepal Chairperson Kamal Thapa widened after the latter lost the election for RPP chairmanship to Lingden three years ago.
During the 2021 general convention, then RPP Chairperson Thapa had pledged to remain with the party and advance its agenda regardless of the election outcome. Thapa lost to Lingden for the position of party chairperson by 227 votes. Following the defeat, Thapa’s involvement in the RPP declined significantly. He accused former King Gyanendra Shah of orchestrating his loss, which strained his relationship with both Lingden and the former king.
Subsequently, Thapa founded RPP Nepal with the agenda of reinstating the monarchy and establishing Nepal as a Hindu state. Since then, Thapa and Lingden have pursued separate campaigns without appearing together, despite sharing similar agendas. Their inability to acknowledge each other’s legitimacy has been a key reason for their division.
Although both advocate for the restoration of the monarchy, they had not shared a platform until Monday, when they appeared together at an event organised by RPP Nepal. It is believed that former King Gyanendra played a pivotal role in bringing them together. A few days earlier, at a meeting in Nirmal Niwas, the former monarch urged RPP leaders, including Lingden, to unite in support of the monarchy restoration campaign. Following this, Lingden, Thapa, and Navaraj Subedi, head of a joint committee for the restoration of the monarchy, appeared together on the same stage on Monday.
At the event organised by RPP Nepal at Shanti Batika, Kathmandu, RPP Chairperson Lingden expressed solidarity with any peaceful campaign supporting the restoration of the monarchy and a Hindu state. He criticised rampant corruption and misgovernance, warning that the future of the coming generations is at risk. Lingden stressed the need for all patriotic and nationalist forces to unite to safeguard national identity, stating that only a unified movement could end the prevailing “looting and authoritarianism” in the name of democracy.
Lingden also called for public pressure to secure the release of those arrested during the March 28 incident in Tinkune, Kathmandu, and demanded a judicial commission to investigate the incident.
Similarly, RPP Nepal Chairperson Thapa stated that the goals of restoring the Hindu state and monarchy could be achieved swiftly if like-minded groups unite. He proposed announcing a joint movement within weeks to pursue a decisive outcome.
Likewise, Navaraj Subedi, coordinator of the Joint People’s Movement Committee for the Restoration of the Monarchy, said nationalists always come together when needed.
