King Gyanendra’s fate is being discussed furiously behind closed doors as the Maoists demand that monarchy be dissolved immediately in Nepal. In fact, he is the reason why the constituent assembly elections were postponed from the scheduled date of November 22.
The common Nepali now hates their king. It was not so always. The earlier king Birendra, Gyanendra’s brother, was widely popular as he was an enlightened monarch. He had initiated the first steps towards democracy. After his tragic death in 2001 in a palace massacre by the crown prince [who then killed himself] Gyanendra came to the throne. He and his son had a bad reputation; which turned worse after he showed his disdain for democracy when he dismissed the democratically elected government. But soon mass demonstrations forced him to go away from the centre stage of Nepali politics.
After Gyanendra’s departure, the understanding between the Maoists and leading Nepali parties like the Nepali Congress party was met. According to that first an assembly would be elected which would frame a new constitution that would declare Nepal a republic and abolish monarchy.
Then why are the Maoists being so impatient about ‘doing away’ with the king? They say that there are some elements in the country which are pro-monarchy and want its return. It has darkly hinted that India and the west do not like them and might engineer the king’s return. This is very ridiculous as no country would like to prop up the highly unpopular Nepali king. In fact India had advised Gyanendra to step down at the height of the anti-monarchy protests.
Also the other fear of the Nepali army wanting Gyanendra to return is equally unfounded. Top generals have come to accept the fall of the king and are willing to accept the new dispensation. They had earlier gently pushed Gyanendra to step aside.
Then why are the Maoists creating such a ruckus? They are raising the king’s issue to attract attention to themselves and perhaps bolster their poll prospects. Their real fear is that in elections they will not get too many seats and they will be politically marginalized. Hence, they demand for proportional representation.
Gyanendra’s fate is already sealed whether the politicians declare the country republic now or let the constitutional assembly do that. All royal assets have already been nationalized. In the near future the king might find himself in exile. He will have only himself to blame for his inglorious fate.
