KATHMANDU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Narayan Dahal from the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) was elected on Tuesday as the chairperson of the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament.
As a common candidate for the ruling alliance, Dahal won 39 votes in the election, while Yubaraj Sharma from the opposition Nepali Congress got 17 votes.
"Narayan Dahal has been elected as the chairperson of the National Assembly. I would like to congratulate him for his victory," announced Urmila Aryal, vice chairperson of the 59-member chamber.
The upper house became headless when Ganesh Prasad Timilsina retired on March 3 after completing his six-year tenure.
Fifty-six lawmakers took part in the voting in the chairperson election.
Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center), has formed a new five-party coalition government after breaking the alliance with the Nepali Congress on March 4. ■