Dr. Dhaval Shamsher Rana and Durga Prasai Form New Political Force

Kathmandu. Dr. Dhaval Shamsher Rana, who has left the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), and Durga Prasai, coordinator of the Campaign to Save the Nation, Nationality, Religion-Culture and Citizens, have reached a formal agreement to form a new political force. Rana's side's youth leader Ranjan Karki informed Ratopati that the two sides signed an 11-point agreement on Friday with the objective of creating a broad nationalist unity and giving a new direction to the country. Karki said that the new party, which is being formed with the main basis of 'restoration of constitutional monarchy and Vedic Sanatan Hindu Kingdom', aims to include the youth generation (Gen Z) and the nationalist segment. The 11-point agreement focuses on the protection of Nepal's territorial integrity, cultural originality, and religious freedom. The first point of the agreement mentions the creation of a 'Vedic Sanatan Hindu Kingdom' including Kirat and Buddhist. Similarly, it mentions taking the divine teachings of nation-builder Prithvi Narayan Shah as a guiding philosophy and advocating for a reformist federalism with national self-respect. As economic agendas, a commitment has been made to solve the problems of landless squatters and citizens in the blacklist due to microfinance, cooperatives, banks, and loan sharks. Furthermore, an agreement has been reached to make 'one-time Nepali always Nepali' and to advocate for dual citizenship, and to adopt a non-aligned foreign policy. It is claimed that 60 percent youth and women participation will be ensured in the new party to be formed. Malmas Delayed Announcement Karki said that although the groundwork for the formation of the new party has reached the final stage, the final decision on the name is yet to be made. He said that they are not rushing to finalize all matters as it is currently Malmas. He said that since Malmas, which started from Jestha 3 according to the scriptures, will last until Jestha 30, they are waiting for a time after that for auspicious work. Similarly, leader Dilnath Giri said that the form of the new party will be different from traditional parties and will be based on the core mantra of 'Make Nepal'. Giri said, 'We are deciding the name and flag in a way that will not fail, keeping in mind astrology and vastu science.' RPP Under Pressure Some say that with the alliance of businessman Durga Prasai and Dhaval Shamsher Rana, the RPP led by Rajendra Lingden will be under pressure. Although there are many monarchist groups at present, RPP leaders say that the new party of Rana and Prasai can pose a challenge to the RPP, which is the mainstream. RPP leaders say that the former king's goodwill will also be of special significance in this. Sources claim that the former king Gyanendra Shah has been expressing dissatisfaction with Lingden's style of work recently. Due to that dissatisfaction, the 'United People's Movement Committee for the Restoration of the Monarchy' was formed under the leadership of Navraj Subedi in the past to create an atmosphere in favor of the monarchy, with the former king's goodwill. Lingden had publicly expressed dissatisfaction at the time of the formation of that committee. Although Lingden later agreed to support the committee, Rana himself has been saying that he did not openly support it. In such a situation, a new party is being formed by fusing the manpower of the 'Citizens' Salvation Campaign' currently run by Prasai, along with Rana and the political experience of those leaving the RPP. Accordingly, Rana formally announced his resignation from the party at a press conference in the capital on Thursday, and in the same process, about 200 RPP leaders and workers announced their resignation from the party. Lingden's Taunt Rana rebelled, accusing the RPP leadership of failing to preserve the party's core agenda and neglecting internal democracy. 'I haven't left home, I'm building a strong nationalist home,' Rana said at Thursday's press conference. He called the RPP 'counterfeit coins' and asserted that the only alternative now is a new force. On the other hand, RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden has called Rana's departure 'a weed that has fallen off'. Speaking at a program in Gorkha on Friday, Lingden said, 'A weed growing on the foot makes it difficult to walk, and although it hurts for a while when it is cut and thrown away, the walk becomes easier in the end.' Lingden also accused Rana of not cooperating with his own candidate during the elections.