Ashu ji, I can see your point. Yet, your argument appears to have been shaped more by what-should-be than by what-will-be way of thinking. The underlying currents in Nepalese political domain indicate that republicanism is not that distant. At this stage, Nepali society cannot reject republicanism just on the ground that it is one of the Maoist?s demands. If you want to defeat Maoism, even from taking a pragmatic standpoint, republicanism is more legitimate and powerful political instrument than the coalition of convenience among groups preferring status quo. Re Sangrula?s piece, what I understood is that he finds problem with agitating party?s agenda in terms of their inability to clearly state that they are there for a republican movement. nispaksha