As per the constitutional provision, the President shall address either a meeting of any House or a joint sitting of both Houses of the Federal Parliament and summon the lawmakers.
This is the first address to the Parliament after Paudel was elected to the post of the President. In the countries having parliamentary democracy, there is a practice of presenting the government's annual policies and programs in the federal Parliament and the Parliament passing the same after deliberations on them. Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Dahal, Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki, leaders of various political parties, heads and representatives of constitutional bodies, high-ranking government officials, heads of the Nepal-based diplomatic missions and distinguished persons from various walks of life were present in the parliament. Before this, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, the National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, the Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar welcomed the President to the Parliament building. A contingent of the Nepali Army offered a guard of honor to the President on the occasion. The President reached the Parliament Building in a cavalcade. The House of Representatives and the National Assembly will hold their separate meetings today itself after the joint meeting is over. The Prime Minister will table a copy of the President's address to the joint sitting in the separate meetings as well. Both houses of the federal Parliament will deliberate on the government's policies and programs for some days beginning Sunday. The Prime Minister will reply to the queries raised by lawmakers in course of the deliberations. There is a constitutional provision that the finance minister should present the annual budget in the Parliament for the next fiscal year on the 15th of Nepali month of Jeth every year after the policies and programs are passed by the Parliament.
