His Majesty King Gyanendra, who has started consultation with political personalities, granted audience to Home Minister and chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Thapa) Kamal Thapa and Local Development Minister Tanka Dhakal in Pokhara Thursday.

Minister Dhakal received an hour-long audience with the King from 10:00 a.m. at Ratna Mandir where Their Majesties are staying for the last few
days while Home Minister Thapa had one-to-one conversation for nearly two hours, according to reports.

The royal audience to the ministers follows a series of consultations by the monarch with cabinet vice-chairman duo, Dr Tulsi Giri and Kirti Nidhi Bista, and several political personalities including speaker Taranath Ranabhat, Ravindra Nath Sharma of RPP (Thapa) and Rajeshwor Devkota of RPP (Nationalist).

The King is in Pokhara as part of his three-week long informal visit to the western region.

Meanwhile, addressing a gathering of party cadres in Pokhara soon after the royal audience, minister Thapa said a new political environment has been created in the country with the King opening the door for dialogue.

“The King has expressed readiness for dialogue. This has created a new political atmosphere in the country,” reports quoted him as saying.

Minister Dhakal was also present at the RPP (Thapa) function.