Talking about his political future, 53-year-old Prachanda told an Indian TV channel that he hoped to be the president with executive powers as he expected his party to get majority in next election.

The communist leader, however, said that he would not become president for life, but only for a single five-year term.

Demanding immediate abolition of monarchy as the king "is already hatching a conspiracy", Prachanda accused prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala of trying to save the monarchy.