Sher Bahadur Deuba

Sher Bahadur Deuba शेरबहादुर देउवा
32nd Prime Minister of Nepal
In office 3 June 2004 – 1 February 2005
Monarch	Gyanendra
Preceded by	Surya Bahadur Thapa
Succeeded by	Girija Prasad Koirala
In office 26 July 2001 – 4 October 2002
Monarch	Gyanendra
Preceded by	Girija Prasad Koirala
Succeeded by	Lokendra Bahadur Chand
In office 12 September 1995 – 12 March 1997
Monarch	Birendra
Preceded by	Man Mohan Adhikari
Succeeded by	Lokendra Bahadur Chand
Personal details
Born	13 June 1946 Ashigram, Dadeldhura District, Nepal
Political party	Nepali Congress (Before 2002; 2007–present) Nepali Congress (Democratic) (2002–2007)
Spouse(s)	Arzu Rana Deuba
Alma mater	London School of Economics

Former Primer Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba at book release program in Kathmandu

Sher Bahadur Deuba (Nepali: शेरबहादुर देउवा born June 13, 1946) is a Nepalese politician who was Prime Minister of Nepal from 1995 to 1997, from 2001 to 2002, and from 2004 to 2005. He is the president of the Nepali Congress elected with more than 60% vote in NC convention 2072. He has twice been elected as the leader of parliamentary party of the Nepali Congress, thus enabling him to be elected twice as the Prime Minister of Nepal.

He was elected as Prime Minister for the second time when he succeeded Girija Prasad Koirala, who resigned in July 2001. A coup d'etat by King Gyanendra removed Deuba in October 2002.

After two other governments, much political protest for his restoration especially in capital Kathmandu, Gyanendra restored Deuba to the position of Prime Minister in 2004.

He was removed on February 1, 2005 by King Gyanendra, who dissolved the government for three years and seized direct power.

He was sentenced to two years in prison in July 2005 under corruption charges, but was subsequently released on February 13, 2006, after the anti-corruption body that sentenced him was outlawed. An official from Deuba's Nepali Congress Democratic Party, Dip Kumar Upadhaya, told the Associated Press that the former premier's release was "a victory for democracy and a humiliating defeat for the royal regime".

Political career

He has been elected as a Member of Parliament three times, representing Dadeldhura District.

Following street protests against the UML government of Man Mohan Adhikari, he was declared the Parliamentary Leader of Nepali Congress in 1994.

In the election held to select the Parliamentary Leader for Nepali Congress following the resignation of Girija Prasad Koirala in 2001, he defeated Sushil Koirala by a huge margin. This victory established him as a powerful leader, especially because his rival was supported by Girija Prasad Koirala, the president of Nepali Congress.

However, in 2009, he lost the election for the position of the Leader of the Parliamentary Party of the Nepali Congress to Ram Chandra Paudel. The main reason of his loss had been attributed to his support to Party leader Girija Prasad Koirala who wants his daughter, an unpopular leader, Sujata Koirala to lead the party.

Family life

Deuba comes from Asigram - 3,Dadeldhura, one of the most remote district in the Far West Region of Nepal.

He is married to Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and has a son, Jaiveer Singh Deuba.

Nepali Congress (Democratic)

After dispute between Girija Prasad Koirala, President of Nepali Congress and Sher Bahadur Deuba, then Prime Minister, over continuation of Emergency Situation in Nepal, Nepali Congress underwent vertical split into Nepali Congress led by Koirala and Nepali Congress (Democratic) led by Deuba. Both parties ultimately merged in 2007 with the name of unified party to remain as Nepali Congress.

2008 Constituent Assembly election

In the Constituent Assembly election held on April 10, 2008, the Nepali Congress nominated Deuba as its candidate for Dadeldhura and Kanchanpur-4 constituencies under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system.^[1] He won from both the constituencies.

In the subsequent vote for Prime Minister, held in the Constituent Assembly on August 15, 2008, Deuba was nominated by the Nepali Congress, but was defeated by Prachanda of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). Deuba received 113 votes, while Prachanda received 464.^[2]

Socialist International

Deuba was elected as the Vice President of Socialist International during its Congress held in Athens, Greece from 30 June 2008 to 2 July 2008.

References

1. NC names FPTP candidates
2. "Ex-rebels' chief chosen as Nepal's new PM", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), August 15, 2008.