Kathmandu – In a departure from established practice, Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has decided not to deliver the address at this year’s Republic Day celebrations on May 29, instead recommending that President Ram Chandra Poudel speak at the main state ceremony in Kathmandu.
Following a decision by the Council of Ministers, the Office of the Prime Minister sent a formal letter to the President’s Office recommending that President Poudel address the Republic Day function to be held at Tundikhel.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the government has proposed that the President deliver the speech under Article 66 (2) of the Constitution. While some legal experts argue that the constitutional provision may not have been intended for such a purpose, the Prime Minister’s Office maintains that it is appropriate for the President, as the ceremonial head of state to address the occasion marking the establishment of the republic.
President’s Office spokesperson Ritesh Kumar Shakya confirmed that the letter has been received but said no final decision has been taken so far.
Traditionally, Nepal’s Prime Minister delivers the Republic Day address, while the President attends the ceremony in a ceremonial role. Shah’s decision to recommend the President as the speaker instead marks a notable shift from past practice and is likely to spark debate over constitutional convention and political messaging.
The move also comes amid broader discussions around Shah’s governing style and his willingness to depart from long-followed political and administrative traditions.
However, government officials insist the decision should be viewed as an effort to elevate the role of the President during a national ceremony commemorating the country’s transition to a republic.
