Kathmandu, Feb 19 (.) Nepal’s former king Gyanendra Shah has called for the postponement of the March 5 parliamentary election in the Himalayan nation, warning that holding the polls amid the nationwide dissatisfaction could deepen political instability and spark further conflict.
Shah, who was dethroned by the parliament in July, 2008,bringing the courtains down on the the centuries-old monarchy in Nepal, said in a video message that the election has been pushed forward despite widespread disagreement and protests.
He said holding the polls against public sentiment would not produce a lasting solution to the country’s current political crisis, Kathmandu Post reported.
He claimed that the electoral process alone cannot resolve the prevailing instability and warned that the situation may worsen after the vote.
Reacting to the statement, a minister told the Post that Shah’s statement is objectionable and insisted that the government is committed to holding the elections.
“No Nepal will buy his logic at this moment to postpone the March 5 elections. The entire country is in election mode. Political parties, party leaders, security agencies, and the bureaucracy are fully devoted to the elections. There is enormous external support and solidarity for the elections. So his statement is meaningless,” said the minister.
It may be mentioned that the government has detained controversial medical entrepreneur and monarchist Durga Prasain on the charge of attempting to disrupt the elections. Once aligned with other parties, Prasain has lately embraced monarchist views and calls for the restoration of a Hindu kingdom.
Likewise, the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party has long been calling for a “new agreement” between political parties and the former king to steer the country towards political stability.
The former monarch also urged citizens to remain vigilant, claiming constitutional values are being undermined to serve political interests at a time when the country faces serious challenges. His remarks indirectly suggested that boycotting the election could be justified if it fails to address the root causes of the crisis facing the country.
Though Gyanendra has been removed from office 17 years back, the ongoing political instability, frequent government changes, and public dissatisfaction have kept him in the public eye and made his statements politically significant, the report said. . .