May 28, 2008
Today it is official. The newly elected delegates of the Constituent Assembly voted 560 to 4 in favor of abolishing the monarchy, leaving Maoist leader Prachanda unquestionably the most powerful man in Nepal. 
The government has told King Gyanendra to vacate the Narayanhiti Palace within 14 days, or be forced out.
On hearing the result of the vote, thousands of people danced in the streets of Kathmandu, many waving different party flags and chanting, "Welcome to a republic". The government declared the next two days a public holiday.
Authorities have deployed 10,000 policemen in Kathmandu to head off more violence (after several pro-monarchist bombings were detonated in Kathmandu in the past few days) and banned rallies around the palace and the convention center.
The Maoists, meanwhile, say 20,000 volunteers from their youth wing are
in Kathmandu to help control the celebrations – less than reassuring
for those who regard the YCL as roughnecks. But for the moment, the
mood is celebratory.
If
Gyanendra peacefully leaves the palace, he is expected to move to the
palatial private Kathmandu home where he lived before assuming the
throne in 2001 following a massacre at the royal palace in which a
gunman, allegedly the crown prince, gunned down King Birendra and much
of the royal family before killing himself.
Although unpopular, Gyanendra remains the symbol of 239 years of a Hindu kingdom. Loyalty to the
throne remains, as evidenced by recent bombings in the last few days.
The road ahead is far from smooth -- for the Maoists who will assume
leadership, and for the other parties who still have not settled their
differences with the Maoists.
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