Nepal elects 26-year-old Rubi Kumari Thakur as Deputy Speaker of House
Nepal on Friday elected 26-year-old Rubi Kumari Thakur as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Nepalese Parliament. She was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Shram Sanskriti Party in the March 5 election. During the voting held in Parliament on Friday, Thakur secured 229 votes, while her rival candidate, Saraswoti Lama of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, received five votes. A total of 22 votes were cast as "none of the above." Out of the 275-member House, 256 lawmakers participated in the voting. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal formally announced Thakur's election and extended congratulations. The 26-year-old was backed by the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party as well as major opposition parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and the Communist Party of Nepal. With strong support from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, her party's seven MPs, and other parties, Rubi Kumari Thakur's election to the Deputy Speaker's post marks a historic moment for youth representation and Madhesi inclusion in Nepal's federal parliament. She has committed to strengthening parliamentary effectiveness, promoting inclusive representation, and advocating for transparent governance while addressing long-standing social issues.
