Devraj Ghimire elected Speaker

KATHMANDU: Devraj Ghimire of CPN-UML has been elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Ghimire,  a common candidate of the ruling coalition, received 167 votes. Ishwari Neupane, the candidate of the alliance led by Nepali Congress, got 100 votes.

Ghimire had the support of CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Janamat Party, Janata Samajbadi Party and Nagarik Unmukti.

Similarly, Neuapne had the support of Nepali Congress, CPN (Unified Socialist), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party and Rastriya Janaorcha Nepal.

A total of 268 lawmakers were present in Thursday’s meeting.

Nepal Workers and Peasants Party abstained.

Ghimire was elected to the House of Representatives from the Jhapa-2 constituency. He is also the in-charge of Province 1 Committee of UML.