Monarchy Knocks at Nepal’s Door Again Factionalism
The Nepalese monarchy, based on the Hindu King’s divine right to rule, was overthrown in 2008 following a long movement which was partly peaceful and partly violent. The country eventually got a secular, federal and democratic constitution under which a communist regime has been in existence since 2018.
It all began very well. After the monarchy was abolished, the Maoists gave up their 10-year armed struggle in 2006 and joined the mainstream. Then there was constitution making which resulted in a federal system which in turn led to the General Election of 2017. An alliance of the then Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) led by K.P.Sharma Oli and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda won. The two formed a united party called Nepal Communist Party (NCP) which has been in power since.