Ram Chandra Paudel sworn in as Nepal's third President

Mr. Paudel replaces Bidya Devi Bhandari, whose term ended on March 12.

Senior Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Paudel was on Monday sworn in as Nepal's third President, days after he comfortably defeated a candidate fielded by an alliance led by CPN-UML.

At a special ceremony at Sheetal Niwas, the President’s Office, Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki administered the oath to 78-year-old Paudel.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, outgoing President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina and other high-ranking government officials were present on the occasion.

Nepali Congress senior leader Paudel was elected the third President of the country on Thursday, defeating Subas Chandra Nembang of the CPN-UML.

Mr. Paudel replaces Bidya Devi Bhandari, whose term ended on March 12. This is the third presidential election in Nepal since the country became a republic in 2008.

President of India Droupadi Murmu congratulated President Paudel on his election.

In a congratulatory note, President Murmu said that she looks forward to working closely with Mr. Paudel in further strengthening the bilateral partnership, the Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.