A swift turn in the political development of Nepal has created a new dimension in the fate of the tiny Kingdom. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala says it would be good if King Gyanendra were to abdicate. He also says the unpopular crown prince should abandon his claim to the throne.
What are the political implications to these most outspoken remarks against the monarch made to date by Koirala who has always been shouldering a ceremonial monarchy? The King was forced to restore parliamentary democracy last April after weeks of street protests against his unconstitutional direct rule.
Although, few Nepalese politicians from the ruling alliance have expressed so much as a word of support for the monarchy, the veteran prime minister, Koirala, has been an exception. He was condemned for saying there should still be space for a ceremonial monarchy.But he has now shifted his ground. It does not require much thinking and arguments on why Koirala has changed his previous stand on the Monarchy. It seems clearly in response to a controversial royal statement on Democracy day in which king Gyanendra justified his takeover of absolute power two years ago.
Mr Koirala has now said this statement had made Nepal more likely to become a republic.
However, it was not clear whether Mr Koirala was recommending the king hand power to his grandson. There has been a wild rumor for a while about the king vacating the throne for his grandson in Kathmandu. Some Pundits have urged to do so in order to have a peaceful transition in Nepal.
But he said the abdications would put an end to the current chorus of demands, notably from the Maoist former rebels, that a republic be declared immediately.
Under last November's peace accord the future of the monarchy is supposed to be decided by Constitutional Assembly elected later this year.
In the meantime, BBC reports, “A recent opinion poll suggested more than half of Nepalis still want a monarchy of some kind, but parties in the ruling coalition firmly support a republic".
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