KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel is set to address the Republic Day ceremony to be held at Tundikhel on May 29 following a request from Prime Minister Balen Shah.
As chair of the main organizing committee, Shah was originally expected to deliver the address during the national celebration marking Republic Day. However, after deciding not to speak at the event, he reportedly requested the President to take on the role a few days ago.
President Paudel had initially said he would address the ceremony only after a formal Cabinet decision. Following Sunday’s Cabinet meeting, the government approved the proposal, paving the way for the President’s address.
The development comes amid growing criticism of Shah’s absence from federal parliamentary proceedings. During the joint session of the Federal Parliament on May 11, when President Paudel presented the government’s policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year, Shah left the meeting midway and has not returned since.
Shah was accused of disregarding the legislature after he reportedly watched the parliamentary proceedings live on television from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, located about 200 meters away from the Parliament building.
Against this backdrop, Shah formally requested President Paudel to address the Republic Day function organized by the government at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel on May 29.
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