Nepal King to be removed if he 'conspires' against elections

KATHMANDU: Nepal's main political parties, including the Maoists, have reached an understanding to remove the King by a two-third majority in Parliament if he is ever found "conspiring against" the constituent assembly elections scheduled in June.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting of the top leaders of the eight parties yesterday, a senior Maoist leader said on Monday.

A provision to this effect would be added in the second amendment to the interim constitution, the process of which would begin after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's return from New Delhi after the SAARC Summit, he said.

The first amendment to the constitution was made on March 9 to accommodate the demands of the Terai people to increase the Parliamentary seats from the region and to convert Nepal into a federal state.

Maoist lawmakers had tabled a motion in Parliament seeking a provision in the constitution for removing the King if he was found hatching any "conspiracy" against the polls.