President Bidya Devi Bhandari's address to the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament has started. He is addressing a joint meeting at Parliament House in New Baneshwar.
Earlier, President Bhandari was greeted by Speaker Devraj Ghimire and National Assembly Speaker Ganesh Prasad Timilsina at the Parliament Building premises.
On that occasion, a unit of the Nepali Army saluted President Bhandari. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Dahal presented a copy of the speech to the President.
Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Kamu Chief Justice Harikrishna Karki, heads of constitutional bodies, and other dignitaries are present in the speech program. In the Constitution of Nepal, there is a provision for the President to address a meeting of either the House of the Federal Parliament or a joint meeting of both Houses.
Article 95, sub-section 2 of the Constitution provides that "the President shall address the joint meeting of both Houses of the Federal Parliament after the first session after the election of the House of Representatives and the first session of each year." The first session of the House of Representatives, which was formed after the election of members of the House of Representatives held on November 4, is currently ongoing.
Regarding the President's speech, the Prime Minister will hold separate tables in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly sitting today. Both Houses have agenda to pass a motion of thanks in honor of the President. To make the speech program of the President grand, the parliament building premises have been decorated with flags and banners.
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