Thursday, November 28, 2013

Is reinstatement of monarchy possible, as election is over and counting of FPTP is also completed? – Part 3

During the election campaign a lot of noise was made about reinstatement of monarchy. However, RPP Nepal was the only party that fought election by using reinstatement of monarchy as a plank and it didn’t succeed to even win a seat under FPTP (it was completely wiped out). In the normal course it would have been possible to imagine of reinstatement of monarchy if the party that fought election on the plea of reinstatement of monarchy was to win a little more than 50% seats –for simple majority.

However, the game isn’t over for the idea of “reinstatement of monarchy” as the counting of votes of proportional representation is still ongoing and it will be possible to form a firm opinion about it only after that. These people must be keeping their fingers crossed.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Is reinstatement of Monarchy subsequent to the election tomorrow possible? – part 2

Depending upon the wishes of the people of Nepal who will vote tomorrow, it may also possible that they vote for reinstatement of monarchy – at least hypothetically.

In which case but it will raise another couple of questions:

• If Nepali people indeed were to vote for reinstatement of monarchy who will become the monarch? It cannot be former king Gyanendra as there is a large group of people in Nepal and also abroad who believe that (or are suspicious) of him being involved in the palace massacre on June 1, 2001 (with a seemingly watertight alibi – called “convenient” by some – of being in Pokhara reading a book) where Birendra, Birendra’s whole family, his brother (except for Gyanendra), his sisters (except Shova), etc. were murdered in cold blood. Former crown prince Dipendra who also died in the “incident” was made the scapegoat which people find difficult to unpalatable.
• This is an age of constitutional monarchy. But Gyanendra has no temperament for that. He has already demonstrated that during his brief stint as a monarch when he “massacred” the constitution and made himself executive chief of the country unconstitutionally from June 2001 till he lasted in Narayanhiti palace. Therefore, another question that crops up in people’s collective mind is “if is he going to become a monarch again?” thereby paving path for him to become absolute king once more.
• Former crown prince Paras too is a potential candidate. But in view of his drug abuse, his violent nature and a stint in Thailand jail, the question that begs answer is “is he fit to be a king?”
• Nepal can also go for baby king. But as his father and grandfather have proved to be unpalatable for the people of Nepal, there is no telling that people will like to see the same gene in the Throne of Nepal once more.

Is reinstatement of Monarchy subsequent to the election tomorrow possible?

Some people are talking of reinstatement of monarchy after the CA election tomorrow. I have been an anti-monarchist for more than 3 decades, but being a true believer of democratic governance, I cannot have any objection if at least the majority of Nepal’s electorate vote the monarchy back in.

Out of more than 100 odd parties, only one party, RPP-N is campaigning for the election with reinstatement of monarchy as one of its objectives in its election manifesto. Therefore, the million dollar question is whether that party will be able to win majority seats in direct election as well as in proportional votes in this election.

What shouldn’t be forgotten is the fact that monarchy was abolished by the last CA by 560 votes against 4 votes out of 564 CA members present; monarchy was abolished by 99.29% - in a highly overwhelming manner.

Therefore, there is very slim possibility that monarchy will get reinstated this time around.