First Session of Parliament Concludes Without Prime Minister’s Address

The review of the news summary has been completed. The first session of the House of Representatives in 2079 BS lasted nine days, concluding with the election of Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal and Deputy Speaker Rubi Kumari Thakur. During the session, 16 parliamentary subject committees were formed, and it was decided that the election of committee chairpersons will take place on Baisakh 4. Prime Minister Balendra Shah did not deliver any address during the session.

27 Chaitra, Kathmandu. The first session of the House of Representatives 2079 lasted only nine days, convening six meetings in total. Starting on 19 Chaitra and ending on 27 Chaitra, the session resulted in the selection of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House. The Speaker election was held on 22 Chaitra, where Dol Prasad Aryal was elected unopposed. The Deputy Speaker election took place on 27 Chaitra, contested by Saraswati Lama from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Rubi Kumari Thakur from the Labour Culture Party. Supported by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSWP), Thakur won the Deputy Speaker position.

Additionally, the session established a 21-member Procedural Advisory Committee. The House of Representatives also formed all parliamentary committees during this period. In the Friday meeting, Speaker Aryal proposed the list of members who would serve on the parliamentary committees, which was approved by the House. Under the federal parliament, there are 16 parliamentary subject committees. The National Assembly has four such committees that have already been constituted. The House of Representatives comprises 10 subject committees along with two joint committees.

The proposal to form all these committees was presented and endorsed in Friday’s House meeting. However, the election of the parliamentary committee chairpersons could not be conducted during this session. Speaker Aryal announced that the election of committee chairpersons is scheduled for Baisakh 4. A 15-member drafting committee has also been formed to prepare the Rules of Procedure of the House, led by RSWP lawmaker Ganesh Parajuli. The rules they prepare will be implemented once passed by the House. This task is now postponed to the next session.

The sessions included time slots like urgent time, zero hour, and special time, where lawmakers raised contemporary issues and urged the government’s attention. In some instances, MPs requested answers directly from Prime Minister Balendra Shah; however, they received no response from him.

A Break from Tradition
Traditionally, the Prime Minister addresses the first session of the newly elected parliament briefly from the rostrum, outlining government priorities, policies, and political messages. This practice was broken this time around. On the first meeting held on 19 Chaitra, senior leaders offered congratulatory remarks. The ruling party leader, Ravi Lamichhane, shared his views, but no address was delivered by Prime Minister Shah.

Constitutional expert Dr. Bipin Adhikari commented on the absence of the Prime Minister’s address, saying, “The Prime Minister was entitled to make a brief address in the opening meeting today. Since the ruling party president and the Prime Minister are now different individuals, this address seemed necessary. Many felt the Prime Minister’s absence keenly. We hope the Prime Minister will claim this right after the Speaker’s election.” Despite this, Prime Minister Shah did not address the House during the entire session.

Political analyst Jagat Nepal said he had never witnessed a newly elected Prime Minister neither addressing the people nor speaking in parliament. “This is unprecedented,” he stated. Historically, in 2015 BS (1958 AD), upon taking oath, Prime Minister B.P. Koirala addressed citizens via radio, an address that was also published separately. The practice of the Prime Minister addressing parliament continued even after 2046 BS (1989 AD).

The tradition of the Prime Minister acting as the proposer during the Speaker’s election was also broken. This time, RSWP president Lamichhane served as the proposer for Speaker Aryal. Analyst Nepal noted, “It was customary for the Prime Minister to propose or congratulate during the Speaker’s election, but that didn’t happen this time.”

Why Is the Prime Minister’s Address Important?
The ruling party RSWP’s president and the Prime Minister are two different persons. Historically, the party chief was often also the parliamentary party leader and the Prime Minister. Whenever the Prime Minister addressed parliament, it was considered the official stance and vision of the government. The divergence between party president and Prime Minister is one reason why the Prime Minister’s direct address was much sought after, according to Nepal.

Other reasons for the Prime Minister’s parliamentary address include: First, the Prime Minister is also the leader of parliament, responsible for informing the House about the government’s priorities and priorities, and earning its confidence. Second, MPs sought answers directly from the Prime Minister on various issues. Third, citizens expect to hear the Prime Minister’s voice directly, a wish unfulfilled this time.

Former Secretary of the Parliamentary Secretariat, Surya Kiran Gurung, said the Prime Minister’s parliamentary address is not just a formality but is necessary for political guidance. It clarifies government priorities and strategies and underscores accountability to the public. The parliament is the arena where the Prime Minister must demonstrate accountability to citizens.

He added, “The international community is also awaiting the Prime Minister’s address. They want to know what Nepal’s foreign policy will be, what economic policies the government will pursue, and how the government views these issues.”

With a government formed on the basis of a near two-thirds majority by a single party, expectations are naturally high. Questions raised during the session included where the Prime Minister intends to lead the country, the roadmap for economic and social transformation, and Nepal’s stance in international relations.

According to former Secretary Gurung, questions that the Prime Minister should address include: “What is the Prime Minister’s overall vision? How does he intend to advance the nation? How is the single-party government with two-thirds majority steering the country? What relief is it providing to the people?” These questions and interests remained unanswered this session.