Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairperson Rajendra Lingden’s decision to remove the party’s disciplinary chief Navaraj Subedi and spokesperson Sagun Sunder Lawoti has intensified internal divisions.
Earlier, Subedi publicly declared that he had relinquished all party responsibilities, including his ordinary membership, to lead the pro-monarchy movement. Since then, both Subedi and Lawoti have been actively involved in royalist activities. They subsequently filed complaints with the Election Commission, challenging their removal. Subedi argued that Lingden’s decision violated the party’s statute.
Party spokesperson Mohan Shrestha stated that Lingden dismissed Subedi and appointed Roshan Karki as the new head of the disciplinary committee. Shrestha contended that since Subedi had already abandoned his ordinary membership, he could not hold any position without his reinstatement. However, senior leaders, including General Secretary Dhawal Shumsher Rana and Prakash Chandra Lohani, opposed the move.
“The party president’s decision to remove me breached the party’s statute because there was no Central Committee decision or prior consultation with me,” Subedi said.
Tensions have long simmered between senior leaders Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shumsher Rana. On March 28, they joined mass protests at the call of Durga Prasain, defying the party leadership. Both Mishra and Rana face court cases for allegedly inciting violence but have since walked free on bail.
The removal of Lawoti as spokesperson and Subedi as disciplinary chief further angered rival factions, who called the moves unconstitutional. Critics have accused Lingden of weak leadership in the royalist movement, pressuring him to launch a decisive campaign to restore the monarchy. However, Lingden maintained that the time was not yet ripe for such an effort.
Although RPP eventually announced a prolonged and decisive movement, it fizzled out quickly. For some time, a faction within the party has been privately urging former king Gyanendra Shah that the movement cannot succeed under Lingden’s leadership, contributing to strained relations between the two.
