Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda took oath of Office and Secrecy as Prime Minster of Nepal, in the name of ‘People’ of Nepal and not in the name of God as is the practice, in general, world over. Prachanda is a Christian by birth. Secondly, he wore suit instead of Nepali national costume-Daura Suruwal.
Ambassadors from India, China, US, Russia, Japan and UN representative Ian Martin were among the diplomats present at the oath taking ceremony. Among others, Vice-President Parmanand Jha, Chief Justice Kedar Prasad Giri and constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Chandra Newang were also present at the ceremony apart from the entire family of Prachanda. However former premier Girija Prasad Koirala was conspicuous by his absence.
After taking oath of office from President Ram Baran Yadav, the 54-year old Maoist expressed his intention to set new standards in Nepal. Prachanda would be moving to China soon to attend closing in ceremony of Olympics.
He is likely to give a courtesy visit to Chinese leadership, who would be obviously pleased to meet a stanch follower of Chairman Mao-Tse-Tung, the great Chinese leader who still inspires lot of people over the world. This will also be sort of a deviation as all of his predecessors made a beeline for India after taking oath, in the past.
After the oath taking was over a smiling Prachanda escorted by his Maoist security guards, met the ambassadors in his new office and said, “The peace process has to be taken to its logical conclusion and my first priority would be to frame a new constitution for Nepal.
Earlier in the day, Prachanda presided over the central committee meeting of his party and announced that he would restrict his cabinet to 20 members with five portfolios going to the major constituent of the coalition.
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