KATHMANDU: Devraj Ghimire, leader of ruling CPN-UML, is now the official Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR).

Ghimire was elected as the HoR Speaker on Thursday.

Out of the total 268 lawmakers present on Thursday, Ghimire got 167 votes from lawmakers of CPN-UML, Maoist Center, Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janta Samajwadi Party, Janamat Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, and 3 independent lawmakers.

Ghimire was elected as a Member of the HoR from Jhapa Constituency-2 in the election held on November 20 last year.

Born in Taplejung in 2013 BS, Ghimire began his political career as a student leader and was a National Assembly member from 2056 to 2060 BS.

Ghimire had registered his candidacy for the Speaker on behalf of the ruling coalition on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress candidate Ishwari Neupane got 100 votes.

One lawmaker remained neutral in the voting.

Ghimire’s candidacy was proposed by UML Vice-Chair Subash Nembang and backed by CPN (Maoist Centre)’s Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey, Rastriya Swatantra Party Chair and Deputy Prime Minister Rabi Lamichhane and Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair and Deputy Prime Minister Rajendra Lingden.

The candidacy of Neupane was proposed Nepal Congress general secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma and backed by CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Prakash Jwala.