Bhattarai elected Nepal PM

Maoist leader Bhattarai elected Nepal PM-Maoists Vice-Chairman Baburam Bhattarai has been elected as Nepal's new prime minister on Sunday, returning the former rebels to power after the Terai-based Madhesi alliance extended crucial support to end the political uncertainty plaguing the country.

India educated Bhattarai, who has a doctorate from New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, polled 340 votes, while Nepali Congress rival R C Poudyal secured 235 votes.

The United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), the alliance of Madhesi parties that is the fourth largest political force in the Assembly, decided to support 57-year-old Bhattarai, who is considered a moderate face in the Maoist party.

Most of the smaller fringe parties also supported Bhattarai. "Baburam Bhattarai secured 340 of the 574 votes cast, giving him a majority," Speaker Subash Chandra Nemwang announced after the voting in the House.

President Ram Baran Yadav directed the Parliament to choose a new prime minister after Jhal Nath Khanal, who was elected premier after 17 rounds of polls in Parliament over a period of seven months on 3rd February, resigned on 14th August for failing to make "concrete" process in the peace process.