Maoist Center lawmaker Aryal elected unopposed as National Assembly Vice Chair

KATHMANDU, Feb 7: The CPN (Maoist Center) lawmaker Urmila Aryal has been elected unopposed to the post of Vice chairperson of the National Assembly. 

National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina announced in the meeting of National Assembly on Monday that Aryal was elected unopposed to the post of vice chairperson of the upper house of the federal parliament.

The opposition parties including Nepali Congress (NC) had decided not to field candidacy from their side on Sunday, making her the only candidate to contest for the post of Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly.

Related story

Urmila Aryal elected as Vice chairperson of National Assembly

Aryal’s name was proposed by Narayan Kaji Shrestha of the Maoist Center, Debendra Dahal of UML and an independent lawmaker Khimlal Devkota while filing candidacy on Sunday.

Aryal, 66, whose permanent address is Birgunj Metropolitan City-23 Gandakchowk in Parsa, has been a member of the National Assembly since February 2022. The post of Vice Chair fell vacant after the four-year tenure of Sashikala Dahal expired on March 5 last year.

Talking to media persons after her election, newly-elected Vice Chairperson Aryal said that she will play a role to make the National Assembly effective. She said that she will facilitate the role of the National Assembly in her role as vice chairperson.

Aryal pledged to play a neutral role to ensure cooperation among parties. She also promised to take initiative to formulate new rules and laws for the interest of women.

Aryal started her political career from the UML. She was elected as a member of House of Representatives (HoR) from Parsa-4 and even became Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare in 2006. She quit the UML and joined the Maoist Center before the second Constituent Assembly election held in 2013.