KATHMANDU: Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Thursday appointed moderate communist K P Sharma Oli, who led an alliance with former Maoist rebels to a sweeping victory in recent elections, as prime minister. Oli was also prime minister from 2015 to 2016 soon after the nation’s current constitution was formalized. “Oli is going to be pragmatic as prime minister to balance India and China,” said Kunda Dixit, editor of the weekly Nepali Times. Oli is the 26th prime minister since protests led to the establishment of a parliamentary democracy in 1990. Party officials said Maoist chief Prachanda will take over from Oli as prime minister before his five-year term expired under a power-sharing deal.

Source: Pakistan Today February 15, 2018 11:15 UTC