Houston Texas - I hear you but if your nick name is any indication of where you are, then you probably have even less of a voice. Whether or how much your voice counts is a debatable point but voting is prolly the best shot you have at making it count. Hom Lal - True, there is a good chance a republic may come sooner. And India's protection of the Monarch is very plausible too. But the key is even Indian pressure can go so much against the popular tide in Nepal - especially in a democratic Nepal where people are willing to come to the streets. And India is not one monolithic institution that knows what the hell they want in Nepal. The military-intelligence group seems to think quite differently from South Block at times which in turn is often out of step with the politicians and the Indian Embassy has a mind of its own at times. But I am eagerly observing the whole thing playing out.