Finally I was able to track him down. He has been busy between Delhi and the border districts, on the Indian side from Banke, Bardiya to Morang. He has been in Delhi, and might be for another week before he goes for another round of border area reach-out program.
I just got off the phone.
He said the king has been moving in his own way. He is in his own "mood." The Maoists have welcomed the recent unity of the seven parties. The king on the other hand might be working to put forth a constitution of his own. His people might be doing the homework.
We have been for a Constituent Assembly to make changes to the state structure for quite a while. The Congress people might finally be coming around to the idea.
The idea of reviving the parliament in the new common minimum program that is to be the backbone of the proposed movement was something we had to put in so as to keep the Congress happy. They were stuck on it. And so we gave in.
Who will revive the parliament? It will not be the Supreme Court. And the Pratinidhi Sabha can not go into a Constituent Assembly. There is no such provision. The move to a Constituent Assembly will have to be a political decision.
The Maoists on their own can not reach the goal of a republic. They can not even reach the goal of a Constituent Assembly, on their own. And they are aware of their persona non grata status among the global players. So they have started to talk some sense.
Baburam Bhattarai has been restored his status in the party. This is a new development. He and Mahara are now a committee that will talk to the other parties. Baburam has been for a "bourgeoise republic." That is a sensible position for a revolutionary party, it steers them away from senseless violence. The Maoists have changed their line. But communication with them is one way traffic. They call when they have to. We don't have the option to call them.
The fear among the population in the country has been dissipating. The public has been gearing for a movement. The people are realizing, no democracy, no peace.
The last time we launched a major movement was when Thapa was Prime Minister. And the king was able to split us. But all parties have learned their lessons. This time we will be more careful. We have improved.
It will not be a good idea to have an all-party government under Article 127. Such a government will have to work the king's agenda, not its own.
I asked Hridayeshji about the possibility of a Kisunji style interim government of 1990. He said that would be a different matter. That interim government had the powers of both a legislative and an executive.
It is for the king to worry about the future continuation of the monarchy. He needs to play his cards right and honest. This is not the time to be playing games and getting adversarial with the parties. This is not an opportune time for royal adventurism.
At this point, he gave me his email address. He can be reached at t_hridayesh@yahoo.co.in
He said he has been travelling all along the border areas. He mentioned Banke, Bardiya. He had plans for Morang. He has mostly been in Gorakhpur, he said.
India's resuming arms supplies has had a negative physchological impact on the Nepali democrats. People are a little discouraged. The king and the monarchists have scored a major propaganda victory with the Indian step. But the left leaders in Delhi are very clear on their stand against any major military supplies. That is heartening.
I inquired about his family. He said there are people who are adversarial to him because of his struggle for Madhesi rights, his anti-corruption campaign, and for his quest for democracy. But their interaction should be with me, he said, friendly and otherwise, not with my family.
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