Kathmandu — Finance Minister Rameshwar Khanal has criticized the practice of selecting an “auspicious time” for oath-taking ceremonies, saying it should not be a determining factor in constitutional processes.
His remarks come as Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) senior leader Balen Shah is set to be sworn in as Nepal’s Prime Minister on Friday at 12:34 PM, a time described as astrologically auspicious.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Khanal said such traditions are unnecessary in governance. “We neither had the time nor the need to consult auspicious timings,” he wrote, referring to his past experience in office.
He added that despite not following such practices, Nepal successfully conducted what he described as its first clean and orderly election. Khanal stressed that integrity, intent, and honesty are more important than adherence to astrological timing. He said these values are fundamental to building effective governance and public trust.
The comments have reignited debate within political circles over the role of tradition versus modern, evidence-based approaches in state functions.
