December 3, 2004

KATHMANDU: The central conference of the Raj Parishad-a Royal advisory bodyl-is to take place on December 9 and 10 in the capital.

His Majesty King Gyanendra will inaugurate the conference, the state-owned Radio Nepal said Friday quoting the Parishad.

Earlier, regional level conferences had taken place at the initiative of the
Raj Parishad.

Analysts say, the Raj Parishad is likely to urge the King to take up more active role in the country’s politics. Earlier, top Raj Parishad officials had insisted that they were organizing conferences at the regional level as activities of the major political parties had virtually come to a halt due to the on-going insurgency.

Critics, however, say the constitution of the kingdom of Nepal, 1990, doesn’t prescribe any political role to the  Raj Parishad.

The main function of the Raj Parishad, as per article 36 of the constitution, is “to proclaim the accession to the Throne of the heir apparent to His Majesty in accordance with the law, custom and usage relating to the succession to the Throne.”