Panchayat

Panchayat (Nepali: पञ्चायत) was an indigenous political system in Nepal that was in place from 1961 to 1990. It placed all governmental power, including power over the Cabinet and Parliament, under the sole authority of the King, effectively making Nepal an absolute monarchy. In addition, political parties were declared illegal. After sidelining the Nepali Congress government of B. P. Koirala on 15 December 1960 (1st Poush 2017 BS), King Mahendra introduced the Panchayat system on 5 January 1961 (22nd Poush 2017 BS). Under his direct rule, King Mahendra introduced a four-tiered structure – village, town, district and national Panchayat – based on limited elected executive committees. Mahendra further consolidated power by institutionalizing and invoking three pillars of national identity – Hindu religion, Nepali language, and monarchy – as a foundation of everyday social and religious life. This was encapsulated by the slogan Ek Raja, Ek Bhesh, Ek Bhasa, and Ek Desh (One King, One Dress, One Language, One Nation). However, there was growing popular discontent over the panchayat system. In 1990, the illegal Nepali Congress and the United Left Front, a coalition of left-wing Nepali parties, joined together to start a campaign to restore multiparty democracy. This led to the Nepalese Revolution, which began on 18 February 1990 to end the Panchayat system. King Birendra eventually announced that he would restore multiparty democracy, and the party ban was lifted on 8 April 1990, ending the panchayat system that had dominated Nepal for almost 30 years. Background