Orion, Quite in-depth observation and analyses. Thanks for sharing. Some contemplation regarding NC's identity, constituency and future from my side. 1) I think while the "middle" identity of NC holds true for itself (leaders and cadres) and to foreign powers, it is not equally true for it's voters. I think the bulk of NC's voters still vote for NC for who they believe brought "prjatantra" in 2007 through armed revolution and for BP Koirala who they believe resisted King Mahendra. So pro-monarchy identity is not really something NC wants to sell. Just look at how NC is trying to portray itself. "GP Koirala is a strong leader who resisted King Gyanendra" is the message they are trying to feed the people. So NC actually lives a double life. "Accommodating to monarchy" and "against drastic changes" for it's workers and foreign friends, but "resisting monarchy" and "controlled reforms" for it's voters. 2. If monarchy is retained somehow, it sure makes sense for NC to keep it's double life, particularly it's moderate image, going, in order to recruit the type of workers it has been depending upon. As it stands, people who do not have much complains about their lives and the system, people who do not know what they want and people who do not want big changes are more likely to go to NeBiSangh and NC. People who are not satisfied with their lives, people who want to see changes even if they do not know how exactly to bring them about are more likely to go to Akhil and Left parties. So, yes, moderates are still NC's constituency for recruitment. 3. GP Koirala's pro-monarchy stand, knowing him for past 2 decades, looks personal (rather familial) and elitist than strategic or for party's sake. Keeping the integrity of BP Koirala's model of democracy for Nepal is very important for him. Monarchical democracy will keep the "Maha-manav" stature of BP intact. Republic democracy will make him look a fool. I think this is what keeps GP Koirala so staunchly pro-monarchy even when it is about to cost his party dearly. 4. As for the election of CA, I am absolutely sure republic is going to win it with an overwhelming majority, irrespective of the mechanism of voting (proportional, mixed-proportional or 'winner takes all' voting) as long as Maoists remain armed. The most motivated section of our society is already pro-republic. For the remaining less motivated section, republic will be a bargain for disarming the Maoists. So, I think NC will have to present it's candidates with pro-republic slogan in the election. I think GP Koirala will have to let the legacy of BP Koirala and NC go by the eve of the election of CA. We shall see. 5. I think the matter of balance of power among SPA parties and the Maoists has become much less prone to or dependent on political alignment and maneuvers since Jana-andolan. Jana-andolan has basically recognized both SPA and the Maoists as equal partners for the job of writing a new constitution and start a new era of Loktantra in Nepal. Jana-andolan also showed that the international community means nothing. So, the international legitimacy is not really that much of a concern to the Maoists. I think they know that all they need is to win the election and the international legitimacy will just follow. So, I think populist agendas rather than equation to political parties is more important to the Maoists. Maoists seems to have doing good in this front. HoR declarations are also partly to compete with the Maoist's images. So, I think "issues" will be dominant feature of coming days politics and public opinion will be determining factors to set the actual course of politics. Nepe