Nepal’s parliament has elected Bidiya Devi as the nation’s first female President. Bidhya Devi Bhandari of the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist received 327 votes against her opponent’s 214 in parliament on 28th October 2015. The new constitution adopted last month required Nepal to name a new president. The document says one-third of the members of parliament have to be women and either the president or vice-president must be a woman. Bhandari is Nepal’s second president since the Himalayan nation became a republic after abolishing the centuries-old monarchy.

About Bidiya Devi

• Bhandari is a campaigner for women’s rights in Nepal. She was among the politicians who pushed to secure their rights under the new constitution. She was the vice-chairperson of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). Bhandari was married to communist leader Madan Bhandari, who died in a car accident near Dasdhunga in 2050 B.S.

About Nepal’s New Constitution

• Constitution of Nepal, which came into effect on September 20, 2015.
• The Constitution was drafted by the Second Constituent Assembly.
• Previous constitutions of Nepal were enacted in 1948, 1951, 1959, 1962, 1990 and 2007.

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