After April 2006, far-reaching political developments have happened in a very short period of time in Nepal. Most powerful King was converted into a person without any political importance. The most aggressive and brutal Maoists Communists party has discarded violence means to achieve political goals. The Parliamentary parties that always used to fight for power politics have been cemented for the total transformation of the country. Nepali Congress Party as it has always led now too is leading the country in the transition. However, the key question ‘Nepal republic or ceremonial Monarchy’ is still undecided.
Yet a new thought of republicanism has emerged strongly in the tradition of the Nepali Congress Party better known as NC that has always stood upright in favor of the Constitution Monarchy since it was founded more than five decades ago. It is an only vibrant democratic party in the nation since it was initiated. In all the elections except once, NC has always won the majority.
The democratic movement of the country was also started with the establishment of NC. When it was founded, the monarchy was there in Nepal but without any power and was under the autocratic Rana family rule. By then even when late King Tribhuvan had to go to exile in support of the democratic revolution initiated by NC the leaders were supporting Constitutional Monarchy in Nepal. Thus they brought back the exiled King to Nepal and established his reign.
However, in 1961 the King staged blood less coup d’état and imprisoned the leaders who brought back Monarch in the political stage of Nepal defeating the Rana autocrats. During long struggle for more than 30 years against active Monarchy for democracy the leaders of NC never pleaded against abolishing the Monarchy from Nepal. They have always stood for the process of democratization including the King. In other words NC has been the firm believer on the Constitutional Monarchy.
In 1990 the mass movement brought back parliamentary democracy that was taken away by the King in 1961. In the process of drafting a new constitution after 1990 movement NC took a bold stand in favor of Constitutional Monarchy. Since NC is the largest, oldest and only Democratic Party in Nepal the majority of the people’s opinion is represented by the party. The present constitution which was challenged by the Maoists in their decade long brutal insurgency was adopted with the principle that the king is constitutional head and cannot do wrong as he does not do anything.
However, in 2005 February the present King took control of the state power, sacked the Prime Minister and banned all political activities. In his one year’s direct rule the people of Nepal did not leave their quest for democracy and continued to demonstrate against the direct rule. Last year, in April the King gave up his direct rule and reestablished the dissolved parliament which opened the cease fire with the Maoists rebels resulting Peace Process that includes the establishment of Constitution Assembly through free and fair election, replacement of the present constitution with an interim one and formation of interim legislation with the Maoists nomination numbering exactly same as the second largest parliamentary party UML has its elected members in the present house.
The interim legislation of Nepal will have all party members excluding supporters of active monarchy. The largest party NC has not yet decided its policy on the Monarchy of Nepal. There are mainly two schools of thoughts inside NC. The traditional Constitutional Monarchists are in favor of Nepal as a country with a ceremonial King without any role in the government and the state affairs. But there are growing trends of republicans in NC who support basically the idea as of the left parties of Nepal to abolish Monarchy and establish Democratic Republic.
Although there are a few living first generation leaders in Nepali Congress Party who are stanch supporter of Constitutional Monarchy their voices cannot be neglected. They can still lead the majority of the party. This includes Nepal’s present powerful Prime Minister G P Koirala who is the President of the party and K P Bhattrai founder member of NC and Ex. Prime Minister of Nepal as well as Ex. Party President.
Although, NC is the party that accepts the supremacy of the people and has been struggling in favor of democracy has never against the monarchy since 2007 BS. No one yet can guess what policy of the NC would be regarding Monarchy itself. After the parliament has snapped the role of the King in the constitution he is now no more than a ceremonial King. Can it be the policy of NC for CA election or otherwise?
It is true the King of Nepal has lost his political importance. However, there are still many people who see the king's importance in maintaining tradition and culture. The majority of the people of Nepal still want to preserve their traditional religious values and systems.
Some political observers argue since the majority of the people of Nepal lie in this traditional category NC must take a political line that can be suited to all types of people. If traditional values and cultural importance is neglected by NC the chances are that fundamentalists can get support of the traditionalists. To check the growth of the fundamentalist support base air for all people should be given in a centrist party like NC. NC power base growth means stability and pro reform.
At the same time Nepali Congress is facing criticism from various walks of life for trying to protect King. However, it is also true NC has been leading all kinds of movements since 2007 BS. None of the movements were directed toward abolishing the Monarchy.
Now in the change context, the party has categorically said that it will accept the verdict of the people reflected through the elections to a constituent assembly (CA). But the Party has yet to come out with its official policy on Monarchy. Once NC adopts the policy on Monarchy it will pave a way for the future Nepal a republic or ceremonial Monarchy with no political role at all.
