The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) has selected Narayan Dahal as its nominee for the National Assembly chair. The decision, announced by Barsha Man Pun, Deputy General Secretary and Finance Minister, follows a meeting at the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar.
Dahal, a first cousin to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, previously served as a National Assembly member and actively lobbied for the party’s support. Despite initial plans to appoint him as the joint in-charge of Bagmati province, Deputy General Secretary Janardan Sharma’s opposition led to a shift in focus, resulting in Dahal’s nomination for the National Assembly chair.
With the ruling coalition’s strong presence in the Upper House, Dahal is likely to secure the position, given the Maoist Center’s 17 seats, making it the largest party in the Upper House. The decision to nominate Dahal, who has four years remaining in his term, created discussions during the Maoist parliamentary party meeting, as some advocated for a candidate with a six-year term.
