Nepal assembly members begin voting to elect first president
Nepal's governing assembly began voting for the new republic's first president.
By Agencies |
KATMANDU: Nepal's governing assembly began voting Saturday for the new republic's first president, a three-way race that includes a 72-year-old anti-monarchist who escaped the death penalty after being convicted of bombing Parliament more than two decades ago.
The Constituent Assembly was also choosing among four candidates for the vice president slot. To win, candidates need to receive more than half of the votes in the 594-seat body.
Electing a president is a key step in forming the new government because the winner will swear in the new prime minister, who runs the executive branch.
Among those vying for president is Ramraja Singh, nominated by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), who is widely seen as the strongest candidate. The Maoist party is made up of former communist rebels and is the largest party in the Himalayan nation.
"The candidate we have voted for is going to be the president," party leader Prachanda told reporters after casting his vote.
His rivals are Ram Baran Yadav from the Nepali Congress party and Ram Prit Rawan of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist), the second and third largest parties respectively.
Singh was an anti-monarchy activist when he was convicted of bombing the palace and Parliament building in Katmandu in 1985. Several people were injured, and Singh acknowledged his role in the bombings.
He was given a death sentence in absentia and fled the country to live in exile in neighboring India.
He returned in 1990 after being pardoned by a new government when Nepal was transformed into a constitutional monarchy. He has not been an active politician since then.
The Maoists won the most seats in the Constituent Assembly in April elections.
The assembly, which abolished the centuries-old monarchy in May, has been unable to form a new government because the main parties have bickered over forming a ruling coalition.
The Constituent Assembly was also choosing among four candidates for the vice president slot. To win, candidates need to receive more than half of the votes in the 594-seat body.
Electing a president is a key step in forming the new government because the winner will swear in the new prime minister, who runs the executive branch.
Among those vying for president is Ramraja Singh, nominated by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), who is widely seen as the strongest candidate. The Maoist party is made up of former communist rebels and is the largest party in the Himalayan nation.
"The candidate we have voted for is going to be the president," party leader Prachanda told reporters after casting his vote.
His rivals are Ram Baran Yadav from the Nepali Congress party and Ram Prit Rawan of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist), the second and third largest parties respectively.
ADVERTISEMENT
Singh was an anti-monarchy activist when he was convicted of bombing the palace and Parliament building in Katmandu in 1985. Several people were injured, and Singh acknowledged his role in the bombings.
He was given a death sentence in absentia and fled the country to live in exile in neighboring India.
He returned in 1990 after being pardoned by a new government when Nepal was transformed into a constitutional monarchy. He has not been an active politician since then.
The Maoists won the most seats in the Constituent Assembly in April elections.
ADVERTISEMENT
The assembly, which abolished the centuries-old monarchy in May, has been unable to form a new government because the main parties have bickered over forming a ruling coalition.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
