Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala has said the King’s announcement of parliamentary elections is unconstitutional. The agitating seven parties, according to him, would actively boycott the elections.

Organising a press meet at his Maharajganj residence Saturday evening after returning from Biratnagar, the Congress president said, “The King’s announcement, in my view, is totally unconstitutional and this will further distance him from the people.”

“What kind of elections is the King trying to conduct by taking entire country hostage and by gagging the press?” he questioned. “Agitating seven parties will actively boycott the elections.” Koirala added that the boycott of upcoming municipal elections was a part of the ongoing pro-democracy movement of the seven-party alliance.

He argued that no elections would lead to any solution unless the Maoists were brought to the political mainstream. Seven parties, according to him, were adamant on their stand that the reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives would pave way for election to the constituent assembly, a major demand of the CPN (Maoist).

“End of autocratic monarchy is our ultimate goal,” he said. The NC boss however responded vaguely on a question regarding his party’s position over the issue of republicanism. “It will prove counter-productive if we go for republicanism without national and international backing. We should weigh all aspects before talking a decision on republicanism.”

The NC leader’s reaction to the King’s poll announcement comes after statements of senior members of the royal cabinet that the government would hold the elections on stipulated time even without the participation of the seven parties.

His Majesty King Gyanendra in his message to the nation on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami last week ordered the Election Commission to conduct free and fair election of the House of Representatives by mid-April 2007.