The end of absolute monarchy and the partyless "panchayat" system in 1990 allowed the NCP to take power in the 1991 elections. However, divisions within the NCP led to a general election in November 1994, which was won by the communist Unified Marxist-Leninist Party (UML), who subsequently formed a minority government. The UML's leader Man Mohan Adhikari advocated full support of King Birendra and the pursuit of free-market policies.
