Days after deposed King Gyanendra warned that monarchy could return in Nepal if people wanted, the ruling Maoist party chief Prachanda on Friday said that those who were talking about its revival were "day-dreaming".
Newly elected Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Saturday said the industries and business enterprises in Nepal which were closed due to the Maoist threats in the past will be reopened.
Prachanda, the man who revolutionised Nepal politics in last one decade, said though he is not interested in any post, if the people of Nepal want him to become the president of the new republic, he would accept that responsibility.
A profile of veteran Nepali politician K P Sharma Oli, detailing his rise to power, his various stints as prime minister, and his impact on Nepal's political landscape.
Madhav, the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Socialist, was present in a special court to present his arguments relating to the land misappropriation case.
'They mean business, but business as usual is unacceptable to them'
In his media statement after the meeting, Modi said he and Prachanda have taken many important decisions to make the partnership between the two countries a 'super hit' in the future.
The leader of Nepal's largest communist party was appointed as prime minister on Sunday by President Ram Chandra Paudel to lead the coalition government with the Nepali Congress (NC), the largest party in Parliament, apart from other smaller parties.
Prachanda took the oath of office and secrecy from President Bhandari at an official ceremony at Shital Niwas.
In a dramatic turn of events, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' was appointed as the new prime minister of Nepal by President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Sunday.
'This revolution has sparked an awakening. Gen Z realises the power it holds.'
Nepal police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse pro-monarchy demonstrators who torched a house and tried to break security barricades in Kathmandu. The protesters chanted slogans demanding the restoration of the monarchy in Nepal. One person was injured in the clash.
Former Nepalese foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey observed that the current situation is not encouraging for India-Nepal ties, saying the "present leaders" created irritants in the relationship in the past.
Lamichhane's Rastriya Swatantra Party, which was formed just months ago, won 20 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives and is the third largest party among the ruling alliance.
'Gyanendra back on the throne would be bad news for the Nepali people. He may not have learnt from his experience, but we have.'
The opposition Nepali Congress had sought Prachanda's resignation after the Maoist government was reduced to a minority in the wake of CPN(UML) pulling out in protest against the decision to sack the Army Chief.
The pact was to run the government on a rotational basis until elections to the parliament are held.
Three Madhesi leaders have supported Prachanda's candidacy.
Maoist chief Prachanda was on Wednesday elected by lawmakers as Nepal's Prime Minister for a second time.
In 2017, a retired R&AW officer conveyed that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was keen to get monarchy restored in Nepal and suggested that I support these efforts.
Prime Minister Oli did not attend the meeting of the 45-member Standing Committee, he said, adding that the next meeting of the top body of the NCP will be held a week later. The meeting took place after it was postponed seven times to allow Oli and Prachanda more time to sort out their differences.
Terming the Communist Party of Nepal (United Maoists Leninst) as a "black sheep" among the communists, Nepal's former Premier and Maoist chief Prachanda has said he will launch the "people's movement-III" by forging an alliance with "nationalist forces" to establish civilian supremacy in the country.
Maoist supremo Prachanda had a narrow escape when his vehicle was targeted with a roadside bomb in western Nepal on Wednesday.
Maoist chairman Prachanda, expected to lead the next government in Nepal, has warned the media against criticising his party, saying that "we will no longer tolerate criticism as we have already been elected by the people". Addressing a rally to celebrate the declaration of republic in Kathmandu Prachanda said his CPN-Maoist will not tolerate further criticism by the media and warned of serious consequences if it continued to criticise the party.
Nepal's most powerful politician and Maoist supremo Prachanda was on Friday left shaken after a young activist, believed to be a supporter of his own party, slapped him in full public view. The incident took place during a tea reception hosted by Prachanda's Unified Communist Party of Nepal - Maoist to mark the festivals of Deepawali, Chhath and Nepalese New Year in Kathmandu.
Maoist supremo Prachanda, whose party has registered a surprise victory in recent Constituent Assembly polls, on Sunday declared that he would lead the next government in Nepal.As the interim constitution does not have the provision for electing a President, he is expected to head the government as Prime Minister. Prachanda also assured the voters that Nepal would be declared a republic in the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly.
In an interactive programme at Rajbiraj, an eastern Nepal town, Prachanda claimed that his party Communist Party of Nepal - Maoist would get 150 seats out of a total of 300 seats in the direct election, and that he will become the first president of the Himalayan nation after the polls. He also sounded a note of apprehension over elections taking place on the scheduled date. "I am not confident that the CA elections will be held on the stipulated date," he said.
Stepping up his anti-India rhetoric, Maoist supremo Prachanda has accused it of backing a 'conspiracy' to restore monarchy in Nepal, which had turned into a republic from a kingdom just a year ago. Prachanda, who quit as premier after a dispute with President Ram Baran Yadav over the issue of sacking of the army chief, said the present Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) -led government is 'just a puppet' and efforts are on to 'murder the infant republic'.
The Maoists in Nepal spearheaded by Prachanda today surged ahead in the landmark constituent assembly polls, winning 14 seats and leading in 65 of the remaining 240 constituencies. Prachanda, 53, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist who led a decade-long insurgency in the country to overthrow the monarchy, defeated his closest rival Rajendra Kumar K.C of the Nepali Congress in Kathmandu.
Nepali prime ministers traditionally choose New Delhi for their first foreign visit after being sworn-in.
At least 65 people, including seven Indian nationals, are believed to be missing after two buses were swept away by a landslide in Nepal and pushed into a swollen river on Friday, according to media reports.
Nepal Maoist supremo Prachanda on Tuesday blamed India's 'naked interference' for the lingering political crisis in Nepal, as the former rebels served an ultimatum to the embattled government to resolve the deadlock by January 24 or face an indefinite general strike.
The exit of CPN-UML may not immediately affect the Prachanda-led government, which is supported by the Nepali Congress which has 89 lawmakers in the House.
Dismissing as "ridiculous" India's fears that Nepal was moving closer to China, Prime Minister Prachanda has, however, said there was a "crisis of confidence" between him and the Indian establishment.
Nepal's Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist on Thursday demanded a suspension of the vote counting, alleging conspiracy after initial results showed the party trailing at third position in the constituent assembly elections.
The Nepal government signed a $215.96 million soft loan agreement with China in March 2016 for the construction of the airport in this tourist hub.
Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist leader Prachanda on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kathmandu and expressed confidence that a "new chapter" has begun in Indo-Nepal ties.
India maintains Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura belong to it.
53-year-old Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda was administered the oath of office by President Ram Baran Yadav during a function at the Rastrapati Bhawan in Kathmandu.
The main Opposition party Communist Party of Nepal-(Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) disrupted the National Assembly meeting on Wednesday, demanding the prime minister's resignation. The meeting has been postponed to 1 pm Thursday.
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