Nepal’s Maoist chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda on Monday was sworn in as the first prime minister of the republic.
President Ram Baran Yadav at around 3.45 pm administered the oath of office and secrecy to Prachanda at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Maoist chief on Friday was elected prime minister by the Constituent Assembly.
The function was attended by VVIPs of Nepal, including Chief Justice Kedar Prasad Giri, Vice-president Parmananda Jha, Constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Chandra Nemwang and diplomats.
Interestingly, the outgoing Prime Minister and Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala did not attend the ceremony.
Prachanda will shift to his official residence in Baluwatar on Monday evening, sources in the PMO told HT. He will fly to Beijing on Saturday to take part in the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.