Prachanda for graceful exit of monarchy

Kathmandu, Apr 19 (UNI) CPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda has said he is in favour of providing Nepalese King Gyanendra a graceful exit from the throne that the Shah dynasty has occupied for the last 240 years.

''I have initiated consultations with various diplomatic missions and leaders of other political parties on what such a graceful exit might be,'' Prachanda said in an interview to The Kathmandu Post.

''The King should not be ousted from the throne in a humiliating manner,'' he said, adding that there would be no further action against him if he obeyed the verdict of the people.

''Even after he leaves the throne he should be allowed to continue with his business affairs or other activities, including engagement in politics in future if he so desires,'' he said.

''We will present yet another surprise to the world by peacefully negotiating the King's exit from Narayanhiti Royal Palace,'' he said.

Prachanda said he was ready to meet the King in person to negotiate his exit. ''If necessary, I am even ready to meet him,'' he said.

He said the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) will put an end to the monarchy. ''There is no alternative to abolishing the monarchy through the first meeting of the CA and we will do just that,'' he said.

''If we fail, Nepal will plunge into another crisis,'' he added.

Prachanda said he was in favour of cobbling together a coalition government. The mandate of the CA election was to draft a new constitution and take the peace process to its conclusion. The parties haven't yet fulfilled the people's mandate, so they all should stay on in the ruling coalition to fulfill it,'' he said.

About what type the next government will be, Prachanda said the Maoists haven't yet taken a decision about this. ''We are open to discussion and the next government will be formed through consensus,'' he said.

He, however, said parallel power centres should not be created during this transition, as this could complicate the political process.

''One person should have control and command, whether it is the president or Prime Minister,'' he said.

Maoists have emerged as the largest party in the CA polls held on April 10.

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