A return to monarchy in Nepal is impossible, and the ongoing protests are not necessarily resentment against democracy but rather some individuals seeking to settle personal scores, sources told CNN-News18 on Saturday. Kings are perceived as being associated with undesirable individuals, they said, adding that no one will amend the constitution and consolidate power into the hands of a few. Nepal has established an institutional framework; this makes the restoration of the monarchy a very remote possibility. A source close to Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said, “The reinstatement of monarchy in Nepal is highly improbable because the 2006 People’s Movement (Jan Andolan II) and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008 marked a decisive shift toward republicanism.” Public trust in the monarchy eroded due to authoritarianism and King Gyanendra’s unpopular power grab in 2005, sources said. Nepal’s 2015 constitutional changes also formally established the country as a federal democratic republic. Reinstating the monarchy would require a constitutional amendment, necessitating a two-thirds parliamentary majority. Major political parties (Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Maoist Centre) and newer republican outfits dominate the political landscape. They prioritise federalism and addressing governance issues and are unlikely to support the return of the monarchy. Significant resistance would likely come from global powers and international organisations that support Nepal’s republic as a stabilising democratic framework, said sources. Democracy has decentralised power, empowering local governance and diverse ethnic groups. Reintroducing a centralised monarchy would conflict with these progressive strides toward equity and representation. The former royal family, particularly Gyanendra, lacks political influence and has not mobilised significant support for restoration, the sources said, adding that their legacy is tainted by past autocratic actions. A top Indian government source said, “We are watching the situation closely. Nepal has its own problems, a major one being corruption among politicians. Their politics needs to be stable and geared toward the well-being of their people. Moving towards China is one reason they are facing this problem because a large number of youth are still unemployed. Yesterday’s violence was mainly perpetrated by people who are unemployed and have no understanding of monarchy or democracy.”