Communist Leader Takes Oath as PM of Himalayan Nation

Madhav Kumar Nepal, Communist party leader, has been sworn in as the prime minister of the Himalayan nation. He has immediately taken up the task of governing without the support of country’s biggest party.

Over the weekend, Nepal, chief of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), was elected by parliament with the support of 22 political parties and 350 members in the 601-seat parliament.

Nepal, heading a broad coalition, does not have in government the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), which had former communist rebels who renounced armed revolt in 2006 in favour of joining a peace process.

With 238 seats, the Maoists are the biggest political group in parliament and, even though in the opposition now, will be a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, Nepal is expected to appoint his Cabinet from among the 22 parties which are part of his coalition.

It may be mentioned that Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal stepped as prime minister earlier this month in the wake of a dispute with the president over the sacking of the army chief.

Nepal has been an eminent politica figure in Nepal for more than a decade. He was instrumental in 2005 protests against the authoritarian rule of then-King Gyanendra and the weeks of street protests that led to the restoration of democracy a year later.

Both Dahal’s and Nepal’s parties are communist but have difference in policies and beliefs.