Mounting pressure on King Gyanendra to abdicate, the Maoists have asked the monarch to vacate his palace immediately or face stern action including banishment, a demand which the Nepali Congress of Prime Minister G P Koirala has refused to endorse.

“As the country has already become a republic through the Parliament declaration, King Gyanendra should immediately vacate the palace and live as an ordinary citizen,” Minister for Local Development Dev Gurung said at an interaction programme here on Tuesday.

The Maoists, who walked out of the government in September, rejoined the cabinet early this week after agreeing on a 23-point deal under which the interim Parliament voted to abolish the monarchy. However, the decision is subject to ratification by an elected Constituent Assembly.

“The government will resort to serious actions if the King does not leave the Narayanhiti Palace immediately,” Gurung warned. “If Gyanendra does not leave the palace, the government will force him out.”

Nepali Congress Vice President Gopalman Shrestha disagreed with the demand saying, “How can we ask him to leave the palace immediately? Even after the monarchy is abolished, Gyanendra can open a party and fight the election as an ordinary citizen of Nepal.”