Kathmandu, Dec 27: Despite major political parties boycotting the event and Maoist rebels calling for a general strike on the day, grand preparations are on to felicitate king Gyanendra on January 3.
The Biratnagar sub-metropolitan corporation is organizing a civic felicitation and reception to the royal couple, coinciding with the new year. A 1,001-member civic reception and felicitation committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Meghraj Sharma for the purpose.
However, the major political parties including Nepali Congress and Nepal Communist Party (UML) have decided to boycott the civic reception function saying this will further deepen gap between the monarchy and the political parties.

"The civic reception will function will invite confrontation between the king and political parties," CPN-UML leader Bamdev Gautam said.


Biratnagar is the home town of former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who is opposing the way civic reception is being organized in honour of the king.
The civic reception has been regarded as the test of popularity for the monarch, at a time when the major political parties are opposing the October 4 royal take over assuming all the executive powers by the king himself.


Bureau Report