Maoist leader could be first elected Nepalese president

NEW DELHI, Jan 23 (KUNA) — Chairman of once banned Maoist party of Nepal, Prachanda, could well be the first president of the Himalayan state after the April elections.
The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, which will participate in the April 10 Constituent Assembly polls, has coined a new slogan “Comrade Prachanda as first president of new Nepal.” This was finalised after a meeting of the top Maoist leaders at Katmandu Tuesday night, Indo Asian News Service reported Wednesday.
The 53-year-old Prachanda, will contest for the post of Nepal’s first president, a step towards transforming the former Himalayan Kingdom into a republic. The Maoists are part of the present interim government ruling Nepal.
This would be a major setback for Nepal’s Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and his Nepali Congress party, the news agency said.
The 84-year-old Koirala is also suffering from cold, cough and breathing difficulties.
The doctors have advised him not to attend public meetings, which could affect his Nepali Congress poll campaign.