Ram Baran Yadav elected first President of Nepal

Kathmandu, Jul 21 (UNI) Dr Ram Baran Yadav of the Nepali Congress (NC) has been elected as the Country's first President.

Dr Yadav, backed by CPN-UML and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) bagged 308 votes out of total 590 while his rival Maoist candidate Ram Raja Prasad Singh, supported by Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party secured 282 votes. Dr Yadav was also supported by other small parties.

The chairman of the Constituent Assembly Kul Bahadur Gurung announced the result in its meeting here this afternoon.

The presidential election had to be re-scheduled for today after the two candidates failed to secure a majority in the voting by the 594 CA members on July 19.

However, on the same day, MJF leader Parmananda Jha became the country's first Vice-president securing 305 votes.

After the final declaration, the members of NC, CPN-UML, MJF and other parties with their supporters, have now started the huge victory rally from Baneswore to different places of Kathmandu.

The newly appointed president will be sworn in tomorrow by the Chief Justice of Supreme Court.

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