Prime Minister Balendra Shah Declines Republic Day Address, Recommends President

Kathmandu. Prime Minister Balendra Shah will not address the special ceremony to be held at Tundikhel on Jestha 15, the occasion of Republic Day.

 The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has sent a letter recommending President Ram Chandra Paudel to address.

According to sources from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the letter states, 'As per Article 66, Sub-section 2 of the Constitution, it is recommended that you address the special ceremony organized at Tundikhel on the occasion of Republic Day on Jestha 15.'

Although the constitution itself mentions that such a recommendation is submitted by the Prime Minister, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has made the recommendation through a letter.

The Council of Ministers has formed a 'Republic Day Main Ceremony Committee' under the leadership of Prime Minister Balen himself. Joint Secretary Rishi Ram Tiwari, Chief of the Internal Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, informed Ratopati that the committee has corresponded with districts and relevant bodies on how to conduct the program.

However, Balen is breaking the tradition of the Prime Minister addressing the ceremony in the presence of the President. Previously, the tradition was for the Prime Minister to address and the President to be present. But now, the Prime Minister has recommended the President to address instead of addressing himself.

Sources from the President's Office confirmed that a letter recommending the address at the special ceremony to be held at Tundikhel on the occasion of Republic Day has been received from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
Sources say that President Paudel is also dissatisfied after Balen recommended the President to do the address that he himself was supposed to do.

'The executive head should not make arbitrary recommendations to the head of state,' the source says, 'Now, even recommendations for addressing formal ceremonies are being made.'