KATHMANDU: The assumption of power by the Nepalese monarch, King Gyanendra, was not a surprise to political observers in the Nepalese capital because of the longstanding power struggle among party leadership.

Gyanendra, while saying he was committed to democracy, on Friday ousted Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who advised the king to delay November voting because of the security problems brought about by the armed Maoist insurgency.

Postponing the election past November, however, is illegal under the Nepal’s constitution, which requires new polling within six months of dissolving the parliament.

On May 22, the legislative body was dissolved during a power dispute between Deuba and the leader of another faction within his Nepali Congress Party, ruling party president and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

The destructive rivalry between Deuba and Koirala caused the party to split up. Koirala was unseated as prime minister by Deuba in July 2001, and Deuba sought to reimpose a state of emergency in the country that has been fighting a bloody civil war for more than six years.

But Koirala’s faction opposed the move and in retaliation, Deuba dissolved the body in May and ordered elections. The dissolution was upheld in court.

The political parties, particularly the faction led by Koirala, wanted to reinstate the house to “defuse” the crisis. And when Deuba received a mandate from the parties to either reinstate or postpone the elections, he chose the latter.

Parties have been unable to decide on political leadership and fear for the lives of candidates, who could be targeted by the Maoists.

The Election Commission announced on Saturday a six-phase staggered poll schedule spread over two months. The commission said candidates in the first phase will begin filing their nomination papers and legal difficulties will arise if a decision on poll postponement were not taken by Friday.

In his address to the nation, the king reiterated his commitment to democracy and said the takeover of executive power was “temporary” and that a government, headed by a person with a “clean image” would be formed within five days.

The Maoists have opposed elections, but faxed a statement to the media saying the postponement was a “conspiracy”.—dpa