Kathmandu, December 7 :

Seniormost communist leader and coordinator of the CPN (Unity Centre-Masal), Mohan Bikram Singh, today said that all republican forces should work together to establish a democratic republic. He accused the CPN (Maoist) and the CPN (UML) of talking about forming a front for a republican order to attract people in their folds. Their ideas on the formation of a republican front are not clear, he said.

“The monarchy can never function as a constitutional institution in the country,” he said. “Whenever the monarchy gets any chance to revive its strength, it becomes autocratic.” Speaking at an interaction with media persons here, the 78-year-old leader urged all political forces to “go for a republic”.

“The parties must opt for a republican order during the constituent assembly (elections),” Singh, who claims to be living underground, said. “Some elements within the country and outside it are still against holding constituent assembly (CA) elections,” he said, calling for early polls.

On his association with the Revolutionary International Movement (RIM), Singh said his party got dissociated with the RIM seven years ago over ideological differences. The RIM, he said, insisted that there should be no “suitable condition” to wage an armed struggle in any country. “But we said there should be a suitable condition for an armed struggle to take place. The differences led us to de-link with the RIM.” He said the Maoists had decided to wage the decade-long insurgency without thoroughly analysing the situation of the country. He termed the Maoists’ decision to wage the insurgency an immature one.

“The Maoists had to return to the talks table even after waging the decade-long war because the conditions were not conducive to a revolution, he said. “The CPN (Maoist) waged an armed struggle without analysing the situation of the country thoroughly. Now, it is settling for multiparty democracy.”

He also accused Maoist chairman Prachanda of showing loyalty towards India to go to power.