New Delhi (PTI): The CPI(M) on Saturday congratulated Nepal's Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, on being elected as the first prime minister of the new Himalayan republic and urged all political parties in the country to join hands in adopting a republican constitution.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, who played an important role in bringing the Maoists to political mainstream of Nepal, said the election of Dahal was a "welcome" development, though a delayed one.

"We happily congratulate Dahal for being elected the prime minister of the republic of Nepal. This had to happen four months ago when the Maoist emerged as the single largest party," Yechury told PTI.

He said the CPI(M) is appealing to all Nepali parties, including the Nepali Congress, which together fought for establishment of the republic, to cooperate in order to consolidate this process by adopting a "properly deliberated" republican constitution.

Yechury wished the people of Nepal "in their struggle for a better future with a more representative and inclusive republican polity."

The Maoist chief was on Friday elected as the first prime minister in post-monarchy Nepal as he swept a Constituent Assembly vote defeating his Nepali Congress rival and former premier Sher Bahadur Deuba.