ID :
16299
Tue, 08/19/2008 - 00:36
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http://m.oananews.org//node/16299
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Prachanda sworn-in first Prime Minister of republic Nepal
Kathmandu, Aug 18 (PTI) Maoist chief Prachanda was sworn-in as the first Prime Minister of the world's newest republic of Nepal on Monday, capping his transformation from a guerrilla fighting against monarchy to the most influentialleader of the Himalayan state.
53-year-old Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, who was overwhelmingly voted to the top post by the Constituent Assembly on Friday, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Indian-origin President Ram Baran Yadav at a function attended by hundreds of political leaders, diplomatsand senior officials at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here.
"Respecting the Constitution, I will perform my duty impartially, without any bias and without any fear," Prachanda said in his oath. "I will remain faithful to the nation and my countrymen, and promise in the name of the people that I will remain faithful to the sovereign nation of Nepal." Unlike President Yadav who wore the traditional Nepali dress of 'Daura-Suruwal', Prachanda donned a westerngrey-colour suit and tie as well as a black cap.
Barring Prachanda and Vice President Permananda Jha who was dressed in a 'Dhoti Kurta', all other dignitaries on the dais were attired in the national dress of Nepal. A four- member team of Indian politicians led by President of Nepal-India Parliamentary Forum and leader of Janata Dal-United Sharad Yadav also attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Shortly after his swearing-in, the former guerrilla leader assumed charge at Singhdurbar Secretariat. A beaming Prachanda also interacted with foreign diplomats, including Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood who congratulated him onassumption of office.
"I am very happy to be sworn in as the Prime Minister," Prachanda told reporters, adding the new government would takethe peace process to its logical end.
The Maoist chief is yet to move to the Prime Minister'sOfficial residence at Baluwatar.
Prachanda's election to the top post ended over four-month long political deadlock in Nepal, which held the landmark Constituent Assembly poll on April 10 leading to a hung assembly. The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist had emergedthe largest party in the election.
Amid differences among Maoists and their allies over key portfolios, the formation of the new government is expected totake few more days.
It would take two-three days to complete the formation of the new Cabinet, senior Maoist leader Mohan Vaidya Kiran toldPTI.
Maoists' second-in rank leader Baburam Bhattarai said the new government's priority would be peace, stability anddevelopment.
Sharad Yadav, who was here along with Sudhindra Bhadauriya, K.C. Tyagi and Ananda Shworoop Verma, said the Indian delegation met Prachanda this morning at his residenceat Nayabazaar and expressed good wishes.
"We came here to express our solidarity with the masses of Nepal and to hail the historic changes that have takenplace following the defeat of monarchy," said K.C. Tyagi.
Outgoing octogenarian premier G.P. Koirala, whose Nepali Congress has decided to sit in opposition, skipped the swearing in ceremony but his party was represented by ex-prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who had lost the primeministerial poll against Prachanda.
Deuba said the Nepali Congress would assume the role of aresponsible opposition.
Also present on the occasion were Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal; Chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subhas Nemwang; Chief Justice Kedar Prasad Giri; Vice President Parmananda Jhaand other distinguished people.
Besides the army and police deployed for the security of Prachanda, he was provided protection by half a dozen Maoistsecurity men.
Interestingly, Nepal Army chief Rukmangad Katuwal, who was standing near the seat marked for Prachanda, was asked toleave the place before the new Prime Minister arrived.
The C.P.N.-Maoist had initially projected Prachanda, who waged a decade-long insurgency to topple the monarchy before signing up a peace deal with the government in 2006, as the first President of the republic Nepal during the electioncampaign.
The 240-year-old monarchy was abolished on May 28 in a historic decision by the Maoists-dominated ConstituentAssembly, resulting in the ouster of King Gyanendra.
Prachanda, a former school teacher, is the second Communist Prime Minister of the country after Man Mohan Adhikari, who led the minority C.P.N.-U.M.L. government fornine months after assuming charge in 1995.
53-year-old Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, who was overwhelmingly voted to the top post by the Constituent Assembly on Friday, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Indian-origin President Ram Baran Yadav at a function attended by hundreds of political leaders, diplomatsand senior officials at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here.
"Respecting the Constitution, I will perform my duty impartially, without any bias and without any fear," Prachanda said in his oath. "I will remain faithful to the nation and my countrymen, and promise in the name of the people that I will remain faithful to the sovereign nation of Nepal." Unlike President Yadav who wore the traditional Nepali dress of 'Daura-Suruwal', Prachanda donned a westerngrey-colour suit and tie as well as a black cap.
Barring Prachanda and Vice President Permananda Jha who was dressed in a 'Dhoti Kurta', all other dignitaries on the dais were attired in the national dress of Nepal. A four- member team of Indian politicians led by President of Nepal-India Parliamentary Forum and leader of Janata Dal-United Sharad Yadav also attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Shortly after his swearing-in, the former guerrilla leader assumed charge at Singhdurbar Secretariat. A beaming Prachanda also interacted with foreign diplomats, including Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood who congratulated him onassumption of office.
"I am very happy to be sworn in as the Prime Minister," Prachanda told reporters, adding the new government would takethe peace process to its logical end.
The Maoist chief is yet to move to the Prime Minister'sOfficial residence at Baluwatar.
Prachanda's election to the top post ended over four-month long political deadlock in Nepal, which held the landmark Constituent Assembly poll on April 10 leading to a hung assembly. The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist had emergedthe largest party in the election.
Amid differences among Maoists and their allies over key portfolios, the formation of the new government is expected totake few more days.
It would take two-three days to complete the formation of the new Cabinet, senior Maoist leader Mohan Vaidya Kiran toldPTI.
Maoists' second-in rank leader Baburam Bhattarai said the new government's priority would be peace, stability anddevelopment.
Sharad Yadav, who was here along with Sudhindra Bhadauriya, K.C. Tyagi and Ananda Shworoop Verma, said the Indian delegation met Prachanda this morning at his residenceat Nayabazaar and expressed good wishes.
"We came here to express our solidarity with the masses of Nepal and to hail the historic changes that have takenplace following the defeat of monarchy," said K.C. Tyagi.
Outgoing octogenarian premier G.P. Koirala, whose Nepali Congress has decided to sit in opposition, skipped the swearing in ceremony but his party was represented by ex-prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who had lost the primeministerial poll against Prachanda.
Deuba said the Nepali Congress would assume the role of aresponsible opposition.
Also present on the occasion were Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal; Chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subhas Nemwang; Chief Justice Kedar Prasad Giri; Vice President Parmananda Jhaand other distinguished people.
Besides the army and police deployed for the security of Prachanda, he was provided protection by half a dozen Maoistsecurity men.
Interestingly, Nepal Army chief Rukmangad Katuwal, who was standing near the seat marked for Prachanda, was asked toleave the place before the new Prime Minister arrived.
The C.P.N.-Maoist had initially projected Prachanda, who waged a decade-long insurgency to topple the monarchy before signing up a peace deal with the government in 2006, as the first President of the republic Nepal during the electioncampaign.
The 240-year-old monarchy was abolished on May 28 in a historic decision by the Maoists-dominated ConstituentAssembly, resulting in the ouster of King Gyanendra.
Prachanda, a former school teacher, is the second Communist Prime Minister of the country after Man Mohan Adhikari, who led the minority C.P.N.-U.M.L. government fornine months after assuming charge in 1995.
