Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) takes oath as Nepal PM, forms small cabinet

Pushpa Kamal Dahal

Kathmandu ( IANS): Newly-appointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, aka Prachanda, took oath of office and secrecy on Monday at the President’s office here.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Prachanda at an event at Sital Niwas. Prachanda was clad in the Daura-Surwal, a traditional Nepali attire that he wore for the first time.

With the administrating the oath of office and secrecy, three deputy prime ministers, Bishu Poudel, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, and Rabi Lamichanne of CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center) and Rastriya Swatantra Party, also took the oath.

Similarly, four ministers — Jwala Kumari Shah, Damodar Bhandari, Rajendra Rai, and Abdul Khan — also took the oath of office and secrecy.

Prachanda was appointed the new Prime Minister of the country as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal.

The then ruling alliance broke down as Nepali Congress party President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba would not agree to Prachanda heading the new coalition for the first half of its five-year tenure.

Prachanda then approached CPN-UML Chairman K.P. Sharma Oli and they reached an agreement, under which Oli will take over the premiership for the second half of the tenure.

As many as 78 lawmakers of CPN-UML, 32 of CPN (Maoist Center), 20 of Rastriya Swatantra Party, 14 of RPP, six of Janamat Party, four of Nagarik Unmukti Party and 12 of Janata Samajbadi Party have supported Prachanda to be the Prime Minister of Nepal for the third time.

 

MEANWHILE, Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, said in a statement on Tuesday: “The United States congratulates Pushpa Kamal Dahal and coalition partners on their formation of a new government after victory in Nepal’s federal election.  We are proud to have robust and longstanding ties with Nepal and will continue to stand with the Government of Nepal to promote issues of mutual importance including achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth, strengthening Nepal’s climate resilience, and upholding democracy and respect for human rights.

“Nepal’s commitment to democracy is an example to countries around the world.  We look forward to supporting Nepal as it continues to deepen its democratic traditions in accordance with the will of the Nepali people.”