Kathmandu, January 5:

Nepali Congress (Democratic) leaders today ruled out any differences on the issue of removing the constitutional monarchy from the party statute.

The party is expected to follow the Nepali Congress (NC) by striking off the constitutional monarchy from the statute at the party’s national convention that began here today. However, it is likely to remain silent on backing the republican set-up. The NC-D leaders said the issue of going for a republican set-up will “entirely depend” on the King’s further moves.

Party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, who expressed his consent to the expected move in a message from jail, hoped the convention would take the historic decision.

He also stated the municipal elections would only invite bloodshed and deteriorate the situation further. He also urged the Maoists to give up violence.

Party acting president Gopal Man Shrestha warned that the party could even opt for a republican set-up if the King took a “rigid stance”. “But for now, we have only decided to remove constitutional monarchy from the statute,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal ruled out any alternative to the constituent assembly poll.

RJP chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa urged the parties to be aware of certain “elements” who are trying to split the political forces. RPP chairman Pashupati SJB Rana reiterated his party’s stance of formation of an all-party government to hold talks with the Maoists.

Leaders of Indian political parties, who were here to express best wishes to NC-D, laid stress on the need to establish full democracy by uprooting autocracy.

Expressing solidarity with the movement aimed at establishing “full democracy” in Nepal, Sita Ram Yechuri, a leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said today: “India and her people are always in favour of democracy and peace in Nepal.” He also urged the Maoists to give up the path of violence and join the political mainstream.

“We are concerned about the current situation in Nepal,” he said, adding, however, that it was for the people of Nepal to decide what type of ruling system they want in place.

DP Tripathi, a leader of the Indian Rastrabadi Congress, also expressed solidarity with the pro-democracy movement. Pallav Sen Gupta of the National Council of the Bharitiya Communist Party laid emphasis on peace and democracy in Nepal. “South Asia cannot be at peace with itself unless there is peace in Nepal,” he said.

In a message sent to the party, former Pakistani PM Benajir Bhutto said she was extremely concerned about the ‘continued detention’ of Deuba.