Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, 53, chairman of CPN-Maoist that launched a decade-long armed struggle against monarchy, grabbed 464 votes out of the 577 cast in the 601-strong Constituent Assembly, after he received the backing of another major Left party the CPN(UML) and the Terai-based Madhesi Rights People’s Forum.

Nepali Congress’ candidate and former premier Sher Bahadur Deuba failed to muster a simple majority, winning just 113 votes in an election that saw the major party which had dominated the country’s polity being isolated. The elections ended a four-month long logjam over government formation which saw the mainstream parties locked in a bitter power struggle. Prachanda’s predecessor G P Koirala had already resigned under pressure and was working in an inter

With Prachanda at helm, Maoists are expected to get nine portfolios including the key ministries of Finance, Defence and Foreign Affairs