Nepal had undergone a
civil uprising in 1950-51, resulting in the establishment of a
parliamentary democracy under a
constitutional rather an absolute monarchy. However, the period of parliamentary rule soon ended following a
1960 coup led by
King Mahendra that led to the banning of political parties, and executive power over the cabinet and parliament being effectively placed in the power of the monarch. This political regime, known as the
Panchayat system, persisted throughout his ruling. In 1972,
King Birendra, the son of
King Mahendra, assumed the throne as an
absolute monarch, inheriting significant power. Throughout his reign, prominent members of the
Nepali Congress were frequently subjected to arrests in efforts to maintain his authority. However, by the 1980s, there was a gradual relaxation of political constraints, leading to the emergence of liberal student movements advocating for constitutional reforms in Nepal. In response to the escalating pro-democracy sentiments,
King Birendra announced a
referendum to determine the future political system of the country. The options presented to the public were between a
multi-party democracy and the existing
party-less Panchayati system. The
referendum took place in May 1980, resulting in a loss for the multi-party system, with 45% of the votes in favor, as opposed to 55% for the continuation of the
party-less system. == History ==