NEW DELHI, March 21 (UPI) -- King Gyanendra is becoming further isolated as Maoist leaders and pro-democracy opposition parties in Nepal join forces to draw up a new constitution, Indian political analysts said Tuesday.
The development comes amid escalating street violence, with at least 23 rebels and 10 policemen killed Tuesday as a rebel blockade was called off.
"King (Gyanendra) is getting isolated as Maoists and the (opposition) have joined hands against him and decided to prepare a new constitution, which would reduce the powers of the monarch," said A.B. Mahapatra, a senior analyst.
Mahapatra said that since political parties and the rebels have faced difficulties in dealing with the King individually, they had no choice but to come together.
"Definitely, there will be a decline in the incidents of violence in Nepal after Maoists joining the political mainstream," he said.
In a landmark development, armed Maoists and the main opposition bloc, the seven-parties alliance, on Sunday united to streamline efforts to scale down Gyanendra's absolute power over the tiny Himalayan Kingdom.
Both sides announced their decision to launch a month of peaceful agitation against the monarchy in April and to find a solution to the decade-old armed conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives.
"The Maoists and the alliance agreed to form an interim government by holding a national political conference of the agitating democratic forces and to establish full-fledged democracy by holding elections to the constituent assembly," said a statement issued by the seven-parties alliance on Sunday.
After the alliance was forged, Maoists agreed to end the blockade of roads connecting the capital, Katmandu, with the rest of the country.
Rebels had for the last three weeks seized all highways leading to Katmandu from all parts of the country to capture the Nepalese capital. The blockade created a crisis for many local residents as supply of food stuffs and other materials began to run short.
"The Maoists have agreed to withdraw the blockade of roads leading to Katmandu," said the statement, adding, "The alliance also called on the international community to support their initiatives to end absolute monarchy and find a political solution to the insurgency."
Analysts say that by formally allying with the opposition, the Maoists have gained much needed credibility and will put the embattled monarch under greater pressure.
Gyanendra already passed up on the opportunity to hammer out a deal with the seven-parties alliance in the aftermath of scuttled municipal polls last February.
The intensified agitation program, slated to start on April 6, will include a four-day general strike and a massive public rally in the capital on April 8. The alliance appealed to the public to turn out en mass to peacefully support the pro-democracy movement.
King Gyanendra, who illegally grabbed absolute power after sacking the popular government 13 months ago, has refused to reinstate the parliament despite tremendous pressure from India and the international community.
The Maoists and opposition seem to have found a middle path for the first time to confront the monarchy. The seven-parties alliance was previously not in favor of a new constitution, preferring to keep the present one with some amendment relating to the king's powers.
Under the present Nepalese constitution, King Gyanendra has the power to dismiss federal and provincial governments, in addition to local bodies. He also remains commander of the Royal Nepalese Army.
Maoists now say Gyanendra's role in the new constitution should be symbolic. Without any executive power under the new constitution, he would no longer be able to sack any popular government and the parliament with the help of the army, as he would have to relinquish the office of the supreme commander of the Royal Nepalese Army.
King Gyanendra had recently proposed a conditional dialogue with opposition groups, but said he would never hold talks with the rebels.
