Maoist Prachanda becomes Nepal’s 8th Prime Minister in Eight Years

 

August 3, 2016

 

Today, former communist rebel leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka “Prachanda” officially became Nepal’s new Prime Minister, which makes him the 24^th prime minister in the last 26 years, one of the key reasons contributing to Nepal’s ongoing instability.

 

The parties that supported his election included Nepali Congress, Sanghiya Gathabandhan, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, among others. Out of 573 votes cast in the parliament, 363 were in favor of Prachanda.

 

It was a foregone conclusion, since Dahal was the only candidate. This is Dahal’s second time as prime minister.

 

Analysts dismiss the idea that the regime change indicates any agreement within parties as to how the nation should move forward. Rather, it is regarded as a move of convenience – stalling for time. A deal is already in place to change the prime minister nine months from now. 

 

Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to take over from Prachanda before Nepal holds a general election at the beginning of 2018.

 

Prachanda and Deuba are unlikely political allies.

 

Deuba headed the cabinet that offered a bounty of 5 million rupees ($50,000) for Prachanda in 2001, at the peak of the insurgency. Two years later, Maoist guerrillas shot up Deuba's convoy in west Nepal, but he escaped unhurt.

 

 

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