Hi Saroj -

Agreed - any one who placed blind trust on the Maoists would have been wrong to do so whether they were Royalists, democrats or leftists. The Maoists have proved to be a mercurial outfit that needs to be handled in an astute political fashion. I am not one to easily defend Girija, but on this account, I think he has done a decent job keeping the coalition together and moving the country forward on the only path to peace that has a realistic chance of working.

Bear in mind that both King Gyanendra and SPA courted the Maosist. If you recall, there was even a meeting in the Palace that Minister Pun accidentally spilled the beans about and then later denied. Prachanda has also said the Maoists maintained communication channels with the Palace through various sources including former Prince Dhirendra at one point. Likewise they had communication links with PM Koirala through some of his family members.

What is there to say King Gyanendra would not have engaged the Maoists the same way as SPA? I mean from the failed talks and negotiations it clearly seems that he was headed that way if only they would have come on board his government. I think this failure, and the subsequent re-alignment with the SPA was real reason for the King's downfall. His main umph when he took power was he would bring peace to the country but in the eyes of many people just the opposite happened. Had he been successful in brining the Maoists to the mainstream, he might still have been ruling, albeit in a different fashion. The credit for that instead went to Girija Koirala I( a flawed politician, no doubt) who seems to have become what Gyanendra (supposedly an astute politician) probably feels he should have become.

BC -

They can't ask for time forever. If they do, they will get kicked out sooner or later. As for things getting worse, it is a matter of perspective. The number of killings has dramatically dropped and the country seems very likely to have polls in November or there around. Then it's two years to write the new constitution (a bit too long IMO) and then the first general elections under the constitution where I hope Gyanendra will be running for President. I've always felt President Gyanendra has better change of mass acceptance than King Gyandenra - if not for anything else, for the qualities that some of his supporters have described of him here.

{Edited: Thanks for pointing out the typo, Kishnekale}