Kathmandu, Mar 14 : Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was today sworn-in as Nepal's new Prime Minister to head an interim government that will hold elections on June 21, ending months of political and constitutional crisis in the country.
Regmi, 63, was sworn in as the head of interim election government as a part of the eleven-point deal reached among three major parties and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) yesterday during a marathon meeting to form an election government.
President Rambaran Yadav administered oath of office and secrecy to Regmi at a function at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Later, Regmi administered oath of office to two new ministers appointed to the cabinet headed by him.
Madhav Ghimire was given the portfolio of Home and Foreign Affairs whereas Hari Prasad Neupane got the portfolio of Law and Justice and Labour, the President's office said.
The major parties yesterday agreed on four key issues among others: forming a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for providing transitional justice, giving one Colonel and two Lt Colonel posts to the Maoist combatants integrated into the Nepal Army, updating voters' list before the Constituent Assembly elections and resolve issues relating to citizenship certificate distribution.
The top leaders of the major political parties who signed the deal include Maoist chief Prachanda, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal and senior Madhesi leader and representative of Joint Democratic Madhesi Front Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar.
The parties have also agreed to conduct new election on June 21 by clearing all the legal hurdles. They have, however, agreed to differ the election date till mid-December in case situation does not favour for holding polls in June.
This will be for the first time in Nepalese political history that a sitting Chief Justice is being named as the Head of the Government.
The appointment of Regmi ends an impasse since the last parliament's term expired almost a year ago. Elections set for November 2012 were cancelled because of the political infighting.
Talking to PTI after the swearing-in ceremony, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala said the formation of the national election government led by the Chief Justice would not only pave the way to resolve the current political stalemate but also help to strengthen democracy in the country.
Conducting election is very important at this moment as fresh mandate will safeguard democracy and ensure people's participation, he pointed out. Nepali Congress will not compromise with any force on the principles of democracy and human rights, he said.
Meanwhile, some 100 cadres belonging to CPN-Maoist, the breakaway faction of the UCPN-Maoist, protested in front of the gate of Rashtrapati Bhawan while swearing in of the new head of the government was in progress.
Addressing the gathering CPN-Maoist secretary C P Gajurel accused that the change in government was brought about by foreign powers, apparently hinting towards India.
"We will not tolerate foreign intervention in our internal affairs," he observed.
"The formation of this government was a blow to our national sovereignty," he claimed.
Over a dozen fringe political parties including CPN-Maoist led by hardliner leader Mohan Vaidya, who were opposing the move, yesterday handed over a memorandum to the President to show their reservation to the formation of the election government.
They have also warned to launch agitation against the move.
Nepal had plunged into a serious political and constitutional crisis after the political parties failed to deliver a constitution before the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in May last year as differences climaxed over the issue of federal structure and forms of governance tobe incorporated in the constitution.
