Ex-royals join Nepal democratic fray

Having been reduced to ordinary citizens two years ago after a 240-year reign, Nepal’s former royals are slowly testing the country’s fluid political waters.

Updated on: Aug 4, 2010, 23:03:50 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Having been reduced to ordinary citizens two years ago after a 240-year reign, Nepal’s former royals are slowly testing the country’s fluid political waters.

In a development that could have far-reaching implications, Raj Bahadur Singh, son-in-law of Nepal’s last king Gyanendra Shah, has joined Nepali Janata Dal, a small political outfit with links to Maoists.

Singh, 34, who is married to Gyanendra’s daughter Prerana, joined the party a few days ago, a highly placed source in NJD told HT. Efforts to contact Singh to get his version failed.

The move follows reports of Singh trying to buy support of lawmakers from smaller parties to ensure a win for Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ ahead of the third round of voting to elect next PM on August 2.

Founded 15 years ago, NJD is a Madhes-based party that has two members in the 601-member Nepal Constituent Assembly and has been a close ally of UCPN-Maoist, the largest party in CA.

“Singh came to our party head office in Kathmandu a few days ago and officially became member along with few of his supporters,” said a senior NJD office bearer on condition of anonymity. There has been no official declaration of the development as yet and NJD is expected to hold a media briefing within few days to announce it. A video showing Singh signing a membership receipt of the party is in possession of HT.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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