KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has openly criticized former King Gyanendra Shah, calling him a “puppet king” installed after the 2001 royal massacre, and asserted that the real monarchy ended with the deaths of King Birendra and Crown Prince Dipendra.

Speaking at the launch of a book on Sunday, Oli alleged that Gyanendra was brought in as a placeholder with no legitimate claim, orchestrated by political interests to curtail people’s rights.

Oli also criticized the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) for selective prosecutions, including targeting political leaders such as Sher Bahadur Deuba during the direct rule of former King Gyanendra.

He lamented that had King Tribhuvan remained in Delhi, many of Nepal’s political problems might have been avoided, blaming past leaders for Nepal’s prolonged feudal struggles.

In the same event, Oli defended his own electoral history amid concerns about Nepal’s rising election costs and corruption.

Recalling his first campaign in 1991 from Jhapa, he said his party raised Rs 43,000 but spent only Rs 21,000, including Rs 12,000 for medical treatment of supporters injured during travel.

Oli recalled receiving Rs 200 from then-party general secretary Madan Bhandari as pocket money, of which Rs 20 remained unspent and was later used to buy tea with friends.

Oli emphasized that he won two general elections with the highest votes in Nepal through clean means—without booth capturing, intimidation, or misuse of money and power.

He challenged anyone to prove otherwise, asserting that fair elections are possible with integrity.