Mahara elected House Speaker unopposed, to be sworn-in on Sunday

KATHMANDU, March 10: CPN (Maoist Center) leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives unopposed on Saturday as he was the sole candidate for the position.

Senior member of the parliament, Mahantha Thakur of Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, during a House of Representatives meeting held today afternoon officially announced Mahara as the Speaker of the federal parliament.

Mahara had filed his candidacy on Friday from the left alliance. His candidacy was supported by CPN-UML leader and former Speaker Subash Chandra Nembang, and seconded by Maoist Center leader Dev Gurung. However, the major opposition party Nepali Congress did not file any nomination for the position stating that it believed a Speaker of the House of Representatives should be elected unanimously.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari will administer oath of office and secrecy to Mahara at 11 am on Sunday. The next meeting of the House of Representatives is scheduled for 1 pm later that day.