(i) Nepal was one of the ‘third wave’ countries that had won democracy in 1990. Although the King formally remained the head of the state, the real power was exercised by popularly elected representatives.
(ii) King Birendra, who has accepted this transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy, was killed in 2001.
(iii) King Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal, was not prepared to accept democratic rule. He took advantage of the weakness and unpopularity of the democratically elected government.
(iv) In February 2005, the king dismissed the then Prime Minister and dissolved the popularly elected Parliament. The movement of April 2006 was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the king.
(v) Finally, the king was forced to bow. As a result, the parliament was restored and laws were passed to take away most of the powers of the king.
