CPN (Maoist Center) leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been sworn in as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mahara amid a special at her official residence in Sheetal Niwas on Sunday.

Mahara was elected to the post unanimously on Saturday after the main opposition Nepali Congress too extended its support to the CPN (Maoist Centre) leader in Parliament. 

In a power-sharing deal between the two left forces, the Maoist Centre was allocated the Speaker’s portfolio and the CPN-UML took the chair of the National Assembly. 

Speaking briefly to reporters after his election, Mahara said his major focus in his capacy as the Speaker would on implementation of the new constitution. He said that formulation of the essential laws required for full-fledged implementation of the statute will be among other priorities.