Yadav first president of Nepal, Maoist candidate defeated
by Kalpit Parajuli

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – The members of Nepal’s constituent assembly elected Ram Baran Yadav as Nepal’s first president at 6 pm today.

Mr Yadav is a Madheshi, one of Nepal’s ethnic minorities, from the Nepali Congress Party.

He won 308 out of the 590 votes cast by the constituent assembly, defeating Ramraja Prasad Singh who had the support of the Maoists, who speared headed the anti-monarchy movement and saw the removal of former King Gyanendhra.

Maoists won the elections last April, taking a third of all seats in the assembly, and became the country’s largest political party.