SHER BAHADUR DEUBA ELECTED NEPAL’S NEW PRIME MINISTER

Veteran politician Sher Bahadur Deuba was on Tuesday elected Nepal’s prime minister for the fourth time with the support of nearly two-thirds of the members of the 593-strong Parliament.

The 70-year-old Nepali Congress president returned to the top post 12 years after he was removed by then King Gynendra Shah.

Deuba was the sole candidate in the election for the post of prime minister as the main opposition Communist Party of NepalUML and other parties did not put up candidates. He received 388 votes while 170 votes were cast against his candidacy. A total of 558 were cast and Deuba needed 297 votes to prove his majority.

Immediately after his election, Deuba said his priorities would be holding elections to local government bodies and implementing the new Constitution. On the foreign policy front, he said he would maintain good relations with India and China.

The election became necessary after Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” quit the post last month under a power-sharing deal with Nepali Congress, the largest party in Parliament.

Deuba received wide-ranging political support during the voting and his victory was almost certain.

Among those backing him were CPN-Maoist Centre and Madhes-based parties.