New Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal pledged to unite a country hit by deadly protests over constitutional changes after politicians elected the Maoist leader and former guerilla fighter to head a new government.
Dahal, better known by his rebel pseudonym, Prachanda (the fierce one), led a decadelong Maoist insurgency before transforming the rebel movement into a political party after a 2006 peace deal.
Dahal is tasked with rebuilding Nepal after a devastating earthquake and resolving unrest over the national charter, adopted in September.
“I pledge that I will unite everyone in the country,” he said in an address to parliament before the vote.
“I have a responsibility to solve this discord. I feel that I have been put forward as a candidate to work as a bridge between [communities].”
Maoist party head Dahal ran unopposed and secured 363 out of 573 votes to become the Himalayan nation’s premier for a second time.
He has served as prime minister before, after the Maoists won elections in 2008, but only lasted nine months in office before resigning.
Dahal, whose Maoists are the third-largest force in parliament, pulled out of a coalition, led by former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, three weeks ago and secured the support of the biggest party, the Nepali Congress.
He also won the backing of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) – an alliance of protesting parties – paving the way for warmer ties with protesters from the Madhesi ethnic minority.
Communist Party of Nepal head Oli had faced fierce criticism over his handling of a months-long border blockade by demonstrators who said the constitution left them marginalised.
More than 50 people have died in protests over new federal state borders.
Sources say Dahal is likely to be more sympathetic to protesters’ concerns, following the Madhesi parties’ decision to back his candidacy.
“Prachanda is likely to address the long-pending issues raised by Madheshi parties,” Nagarik newspaper editor Guna Raj Luitel said.
“But he will have to bring [his former coalition partner] UML on board to amend the constitution.”
Changes to the constitution must be passed in parliament by a two-thirds majority, and with 182 out of 595 seats, Oli’s UML is an important source of support.
The new charter, the first by elected representatives, was to bolster Nepal’s transformation from a Hindu monarchy to a democratic republic after decades of instability.
Prachanda will also have to mend ties with neighbour India, which rejects Nepal’s new constitution. – AFP
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