Former guerilla commander from Nepal’s UCPN (Maoist) Nanda Kishor Pun was on Saturday elected as the country’s new Vice-President.
Mr. Pun was elected to the post after winning 325 out of 547 votes.
His rival Amiya Kumar Yadav of Nepali Congress, received 212 votes, announced Speaker Onsari Gharti at the Parliament. Ten votes were declared invalid.
Mr. Pun succeeded Parmananda Jha, who belonged to one of the major Madhesi parties. He was born in Rolpa district. He was the chief commander of the Peoples Liberation Army of the Maoist party during the decade-long insurgency.
The lawmakers belonging to the Joint Democratic Madhesi Front did not take part in both the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections after showing participation in the Prime Minister’s election.
Born in Rangsi of Rolpa district, Mr. Pun joined the Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Centre) and became its district central committee member in 1990.
He soon became the district president of the youth wing of the party which played a vital role in launching the People’s War in 1996. He was later appointed as one of the four deputy commander of the People’s Liberation Army and commanded several battles against the then Royal Nepal Army.
