Although not exactly in favor of Republicanism and although not a huge factor politically, the RJP's neutral stance vis-a-vis the monarchy is a very big deal psychologically. Girija and his Congress party are contemplating their formal stance on the monarchy issue. If Girija, like Krishna P Bhattarai opts for the "ceremonial monarchy", then the Congress will position itself to the right-of-RJP, and that'll be awkward politically. My guess is that Surya Bdr's decision NOT to support the monarchy will make it easier for Girija to do the same, but we'll see because Girija has a strong reputation for being very stubborn, sometime to his own detriment.
But why? Surya Bdr is well-known for being a cunning politician and knows to flow with the political wind. What else would explain his 5-time Premierships (1963-1964, 1965-1969, 1979-1983, 1997-1998 and 2003-2004)? My guess is that he is positioning himself for his 6th Premiership. By abandoning the monarchy before the Congress party did, he's trying to undo his pro-monarchy image. And if there is a hung Parliament in the post-CA election Nepal, he can play the big parties against each and take the ultimate post himself, like during 1997-1998 and 2003-2004. THIS GUY IS A POLITICAL CAT WITH 9+ LIVES.
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Nepalnews.com
8-Aug-2007
RJP, too, dumps monarchy from its statute
The Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) led by former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has decided to omit constitutional monarchy from its statute and documents.
The meeting of the central working committee of the RJP has made the decision to orient RJP as neutral towards monarchy in the run up to the elections for the Constituent Assembly (CA).
The RJP's central working committee made this decision ahead of its preparations to register the party at the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday.
The RJP, which was known as a pro-monarchy party, has become the first party led by former Panchas to opt for neutrality vis-Ã -vis monarchy. Although it has not stated that it opts for republic, the party has said it wants to move ahead in line with the May 18 Declaration of House of Representatives.
According to party spokesperson Sarbendra Nath Shukla, the party will take part in the CA elections by carrying agendas passed by its national convention, and will abide by the decision of the CA.
The party has said that it stands for people's supremacy, guarantee of human rights, rule of law and independent judiciary.
With the latest move by the RJP to omit constitutional monarchy from its statute, the beleaguered monarchy could lose further ground as analysts expect the RJP decision could also step up pressure on other centrist parties like Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) to follow the suit.
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