Kathmandu: After a revolutionary transformation into a secular state from the world's only Hindu Kingdom, Nepal is now poised for another radical change that allows for a Queen on the throne – provided the monarchy survives.
Nepal's Cabinet on Monday took the historic decision that in future, the King's firstborn would be his heir, irrespective of gender.
If implemented, the decision will see the scepter passing into the hands of Crown Prince Paras after King Gyanendra and then to Princess Purnika, the former's first-born.
While Paras' inheritance would not come into dispute since he is the first-born of King Gyanendra and Queen Komal, who also have a daughter, Princess Prerana, there would be a sea change after that.
Paras and his wife, Crown Princess Himani, have three children: Purnika, 6, Hridayendra, 5, and Krittika, 3.
Till now, going by the tradition, it was assumed that Hridayendra would succeed his father. He is known as the navayuvaraj, or the heir to the Crown Prince. In Nepal's feudal royal society, the little prince is brought up as a future king of Nepal.
However, with the new decision by the seven-party government, the palace would have to make readjustments.
In addition, parliament has usurped the function of choosing the royal heir. If that too is implemented, the crown prince, known to be headstrong and autocratic, may not succeed King Gyanendra.
Finally, the very fate of monarchy hangs in fine balance.
The government as well as the Maoist insurgents have agreed on holding an election that would ask people to choose if Nepal should remain a kingdom or become a republic. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has told the United Nations the poll would be held by April next year.
If the election is free and fair, with the growing resentment against the king for ruling the country with an iron hand for 15 months after seizing power through a coup, Nepal might opt for another revolutionary change and become a republic.
Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting Monday agreed to scrap state allowances to most members of the royal family.
Now only the king, queen, crown prince, his wife and the Queen Mother, Ratna Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, would be entitled to a state allowance. Other royals like the king's grandchildren and daughter will no longer enjoy the state largesse.
The move comes after an aunt of the King, Princess Helen, came under public criticism for having taken more than Nepali Rs10 million from the Prime Minister's Welfare Fund, ostensibly for medical treatment, though she owns a five-star hotel in the capital apart from other properties.
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