Nepal vice president takes oath again; this time in Maithili and Nepali

Five and half months after staying away from office over his refusal to take oath in Nepali, Nepal’s Vice President Parmanand Jha retook oath on Sunday---this time in his mother tongue Maithili and also in Nepali.

Five and half months after staying away from office over his refusal to take oath in Nepali, Nepal’s Vice President Parmanand Jha retook oath on Sunday---this time in his mother tongue Maithili and also in Nepali.

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Jha was administered oath by President Ram Baran Yadav at Shital Niwas, the President’s residence, in presence of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Chairman of Constituent Assembly Subhash Nemwang.

Unlike on July 23, 2008, when he had raised a nationwide debate by taking oath in Hindi and not Nepali as required by the interim constitution, Jha was extra cautious this time around and took oath in two languages.

The Vice President’s post had remained defunct since August 31, 2009 after Jha refused to abide by a Supreme Court ruling directing him to take oath in Nepali.

Following an agreement by most parties, an amendment to the interim constitution was done last month to allow both the President and Vice President to take oath in their mother tongues.

Jha’s assumption of office puts to rest speculation on who would take charge of the President’s office during Ram Baran Yadav’s visit to India next week.