Millions of voters turned out to elect a 601-seat constituent assembly that would write a new constitution. Maoist rebels, who recently signed a peace agreement with the government that ended the guerrillas’ 10-year insurgency, vied for seats in the assembly. On April 21, it was reported that the Maoists won 120 out of 240 seats.
On May 28, the newly elected constituent assembly voted to dissolve the 239-year-old monarchy and form a republic. King Gyanendra was told to step down in the following 15 days.