Kathmandu (PTI): Nepal Maoist chairman Prachanda on Tuesday gave an ultimatum to King Gyanendra to leave the Narayanhiti royal palace by May 27, failing which he will be "forcefully evicted".

Prachanda revealed that he had sent a message to Gyanendra, suggesting that he leave the palace by May 27, a day before the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) is expected to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy and declare Nepal a republic.

Prachanda warned that the king could face forceful eviction from the palace if he refused to quit voluntarily, the nepalnews online reported.

Asserting that first meeting of the special assembly would declare the country a republic, the Maoist supremo made it clear that his party would not accept any form of monarchy.

"If the king cooperated with the political process he would be given the rights enjoyed by ordinary citizens," Prachanda was quoted as saying.

Prachanda's 'ultimatum' comes a day after he met former royalist minister and chairman of Rasatriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, Kamal Thapa, and through him reportedly conveyed his message to the King.

However, Thapa had said after meeting Prachanda yesterday that the "monarch wouldn't leave the country in any circumstance".

"I have seen a surprising self-confidence on the king's face at a time when Maoist chairman Prachanda has given him a three week ultimatum to leave the palace.

The king is not desperate but cheerful even at this moment," the former royalist minister said, adding "One thing is certain that we have not discussed anything about removing the monarch".