Supporters of Nepal’s former royal family rallied in the capital on Sunday, calling for the restoration of the monarchy ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for March.

It was the first major demonstration by backers of deposed King Gyanendra since an interim government was formed following violent youth-led protests in September that toppled the previous administration.

“We love our king. Bring back the king,” demonstrators chanted as they gathered near the statue of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, founder of the Shah dynasty in the 18th century.

The monarchy was abolished in 2008, forcing King Gyanendra, the last Shah ruler, to step down and turning Nepal into a republic.

“The last and only alternative for this country is king and monarchy,” said protester Samrat Thapa. “After the Gen Z movement and the path the country has taken, the monarchy needs to be restored to manage the situation.”

Sunday marked the birth anniversary of Prithvi Narayan Shah. Previous rallies on the day have turned violent, with clashes between protesters and police. Two people were killed during a pro-monarchy rally last March. This year’s gathering remained peaceful under heavy police presence.

Despite the end of royal rule nearly two decades ago, Nepal’s former royal family still commands notable public support.

The current interim government, led by retired Supreme Court judge Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first female prime minister, took office after Gen Z-led protests over corruption, unemployment, lack of opportunities and poor governance. The unrest was sparked by a brief ban on social media imposed by the previous government.

Karki has faced criticism for delays in launching corruption cases.