CPN-UML lawmaker Shivamaya Tumbahangphe, 53, has been elected Deputy Speaker of the federal parliament on Friday.

Backed by the left alliance, Tumbahangphe got support of two fringe parties Rastriya Janamorcha and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. She got 201 votes in 275-member HoR while Bhusal mustered 58 votes. Only 58 among 63 NC lawmakers were present during the vote.

“Tumbahangphe has been elected the Deputy Speaker with a majority votes,” Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara said while announcing her victory. CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Dev Prasad Gurung had proposed Tumbahangphe for the post while NC leader Dila Sangraula backed the candidacy of Bhusal. As the Maoist Centre got the Speaker post, the deputy is from the UML.

Tumbahangphe was nominated ambassador to Israel by the earlier KP Sharma Oli-led government in 2016. Her nomination was revoked by the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led Cabinet. She has been vice-chairperson of the UML sister wing All Nepal National Free Students Union.