Maoists to go ahead with Republican Front plan despite Koirala's rejection

A senior Maoist leader has said that his party will go ahead with the plan of forming a joint front for republic even though Prime Minister and president of Nepali Congress (NC) Girija Prasad Koirala rejected it.

In response to Koirala's assertion that his party "will not be a part of any Front for Republic," Dev Gurung –a member of Maoist talks team – said that such a front is necessary to overthrow monarchy.

The idea for such a front has been floated by the Maoists but is yet to gain wider acceptance among the Seven Party Alliance (SPA).

Prime Minister Koirala has clearly stated that his party will not join such front. Nepali Congress (Democratic) has also disagreed to join such front. "We do not think that a republican front is necessary. Ours is a party that believes in pluralism and multiparty democracy," said Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, a central leader of NC (Democratic).

The Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) has not given its official viewpoint about the front idea. "We have not demanded for such a front but we are not opposed to it also," said Jhal Nath Khanal, senior UML leader.

On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister and president of People's Front Nepal (PFN) Amik Sherchan had recently urged PM Koirala to lead such a republican front.

Earlier on Wednesday, talking to his party cadres, PM Koirala had said that since NC is a democratic party, it will go to the elections of Constituent Assembly with a separate manifesto. He also warned that no one should try to 'impose' their thoughts on a democratic party.

His refusal to join republican front came at a time when Maoists have been saying that they would be willing to show maximum flexibility in the management of their arms and armies if the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), including NC, agrees to join a united republican front to establish republic through the CA or referendum. Senior Maoist leaders have gone on record saying that they would accept making Koirala even the first president of the country.

However, PM Koirala has been favoring the line of keeping 'ceremonial monarchy' in place, at least before the CA gives its final verdict on the status of monarchy. nepalnews.com sd Oct 26 06