On the eve of democracy day, former king Gyanendra Shah on Wednesday called for postponement of the March 5 parliamentary election, warning that holding the polls amid ongoing nationwide dissatisfaction could deepen political instability and spark further conflict.

Shah was removed by parliamentary decision in July 2008, ending the centuries-old monarchy in Nepal. Yet ongoing political instability, frequent government changes, and public dissatisfaction have kept him in the public eye and made his statements politically significant.

In a video message, Shah said the election is being pushed forward despite widespread disagreement and protests. He said holding polls against public sentiment would not produce a lasting solution to the country’s current political crisis.

He stated that the electoral process alone cannot resolve the prevailing instability and cautioned that the situation may worsen after the vote.

Reacting to the statement, a minister told the Post that Shah's statement is objectionable and insisted that the government is committed to holding the elections.

“No Nepal will buy his logic at this moment to postpone the March 5 elections. The entire country is in election mode. Political parties, party leaders, security agencies, and the bureaucracy are fully devoted to the elections. There is enormous external support and solidarity for the elections. So his statement is meaningless,” said the minister.

The government has detained controversial medical entrepreneur and monarchist Durga Prasain on the charge of attempting to disrupt the elections. Once aligned with other parties, Prasain has lately embraced monarchist views and calls for the restoration of a Hindu kingdom.

Likewise, the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party has long been calling for a “new agreement” between political parties and the former king to steer the country towards political stability.

The former monarch also urged citizens to remain vigilant, claiming constitutional values are being undermined to serve political interests at a time when the country faces serious challenges. His remarks indirectly suggested that boycotting the election could be justified if it fails to address the root causes of the crisis facing the country.

Shah further expressed dissatisfaction with political actors who invoke his name or the agenda of restoring the monarchy to solicit votes, clarifying that he does not support such practices. He also questioned the legitimacy of the interim government overseeing the election, noting it was not formed through a fully constitutional process and asking who would bear responsibility for any negative consequences.

Describing the nation as facing an unprecedented existential crisis, he called on “patriotic Nepalis” to remain alert and emphasised his readiness to make any sacrifice necessary to safeguard the country and its people. He also warned against attempts to incite division among citizens, saying internal discord would ultimately harm the nation.

Thanking residents of the Kathmandu Valley for the goodwill shown during his recent return to the capital from Jhapa, Shah said the public support has strengthened his resolve to work towards stability, find a way out of the crisis, and help steer the country in line with public sentiment.

The message is widely seen as a signal encouraging those opposed to the current political process to reconsider participation in the election, placing pressure on the government and political parties to respond to the concerns raised.

Senior RPP leader and former deputy prime minister Kamal Thapa wrote on X that Shah’s view that “‘It is appropriate to go to elections only after resolving national problems’ is extremely important, positive, and timely.”

Thapa stated that the RPP has always stood in favor of a new understanding and has continuously created pressure for it.

“There is still time. Respecting the king’s advice and goodwill, I urge all political parties and the government to think positively about establishing at least a minimum level of consensus to resolve national problems — so as to end the cycle of instability, disorder, corruption, and poor governance that could recur even after the elections — and to move toward elections in a way that ensures shared ownership by all,” Thapa wrote on X.

Shah's statement has sparked enthusiasm among his supporters

Suresh Acharya, a royalist who also served at the royal palace, talking to the Post said, “The king has clearly expressed dissatisfaction with the election scheduled for March 5. Since the elections are being conducted against public sentiment, it will further increase conflict and problems in the country, and in the current difficult situation no lasting solution will emerge through the electoral path.”

“Indirectly, the king appears to believe that boycotting the election would be appropriate as it will not produce a solution,” Acharya told the Post.