Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ takes oath as Prime Minister of Nepal

In Nepal, the newly-appointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal as well as Deputy Prime Ministers Bishnu Paudel of the CPN-UML, Narayankaji Shrestha of CPN (Maoist Center), and Rabi Lamichhane of Rashtriya Swatantra Party took the oath of office and secrecy from President Bhandari. A total of eight councils of ministers administered the oath of office and secrecy today in Kathmandu in a special ceremony held at the President’s Office Sheetal Niwas.

Mr. Paudel has been appointed as the finance minister, Shrestha as Minister for Physical Infrastructure and transport and Lamichhane as the Minister for Home Affairs. Other ministers Jwala Kumari Shah, Damodar Bhandari, Rajendra Rai and Abdul Khan took an oath to office and secrecy without portfolios.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on being elected as the Prime Minister of Nepal. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, the unique relationship between India and Nepal is based on deep cultural connections and warm people-to-people ties. Mr Modi said, he is looking forward to working together with the Nepalese Prime Minister to further strengthen this friendship.