Pushpa Kamal Dahal Facts for Kids

Senior party positions


Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre)
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 March 2021
Preceded by	Position re-established
In office 1994–2018
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Chairman of the Nepal Communist Party
In office 17 May 2018 – 8 March 2021 Serving with KP Sharma Oli
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished

Parliamentary offices

Member of Parliament, Pratinidhi Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 December 2022
Preceded by	Baburam Bhattarai
Constituency	Gorkha 2
In office 4 March 2018 – 18 September 2022
Preceded by	Krishna Bhakta Pokharel
Succeeded by	Bikram Pandey
Constituency	Chitwan 3
Member of the Constituent Assembly / Legislature Parliament
In office 21 January 2014 – 14 October 2017
Preceded by	Mahendra Paswan
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Constituency	Siraha 5
In office 28 May 2008 – 28 May 2012
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Rajendra Kumar KC
Constituency	Kathmandu 10

Personal details

Born

Ghanashyam Dahal

11 December 1954 (age 70)
Lewade, Dhikur Pokhari VDC, Pokhara, Nepal

Political party

CPN (Maoist Centre) (1994–2018; 2021–present)

Other political
affiliations

Nepal Communist Party (2018–2021)
CPN (Unity Centre) (1991–1994)
CPN (Mashal) (1984–1991)
CPN (Masal) (1983–1984)
CPN (Fourth Convention) (before 1983)

Spouse

Sita Poudel

(m. 1969; died 2023)

Children

4, including Renu

Alma mater

Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University

Nickname

Prachanda

Pushpa Kamal Dahal (born Ghanashyam Dahal on December 11, 1954), also known as Prachanda (which means "fierce" in Nepali), is a well-known Nepalese politician. He is currently the Leader of the Opposition since July 2024. He has served as the Prime Minister of Nepal three times: from 2008 to 2009, from 2016 to 2017, and again from 2022 to 2024.

Prachanda became interested in politics after seeing a lot of poverty when he was young. He joined the Communist Party of Nepal (Fourth Convention) in 1981. He later became a key leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). He played a big role during Nepal's civil conflict and the peace process that followed.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal: A Leader in Nepal
See also

Pushpa Kamal Dahal: A Leader in Nepal

Who is Pushpa Kamal Dahal?

Pushpa Kamal Dahal is a very important political figure in Nepal. He is often called "Prachanda," which is his political nickname. He has led Nepal as Prime Minister multiple times. His journey from a young boy in a village to a national leader is quite remarkable.

Early Life and Education

Pushpa Kamal Dahal was born Ghanashyam Dahal on December 11, 1954. His birthplace was Lewade, a village near Pokhara, Nepal. His family was Hindu. When he was eight, his family moved to the Terai region, which is a fertile lowland area in southern Nepal. They settled in Chitwan District.

In 1971, he moved to Kathmandu for his studies. He later earned a diploma in agriculture from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science in Rampur, Chitwan. After finishing his studies, he worked as a schoolteacher in a village until 1979.

Nepal's Journey to Peace

Pushpa Kamal Dahal was a central figure during a period of significant change in Nepal. This time involved a long-standing conflict and a move towards peace.

Working for Change

In 1996, his party, the CPN (Maoist Centre), presented a list of demands to the government. These demands focused on improving the country's independence, democracy, and the lives of its people. They wanted to stop foreign control in industries and change old treaties.

Dahal led his party's efforts to create areas of influence, especially in the mountainous and western parts of Nepal. In 2005, his party and a group of other political parties, called the Seven Party Alliance, signed an agreement. This agreement stated that the king's rule was stopping Nepal's progress. They also agreed that the Maoists would respect human rights and press freedoms.

In April 2006, the CPN (Maoist Centre) announced a ceasefire. This happened after many large protests across Nepal. These protests made King Gyanendra give up his personal rule and bring back the parliament. A new government was formed, and it supported the ceasefire. Negotiations began to create a new constitution and decide the future of the monarchy. The Maoists wanted Nepal to become a republic.

Serving as Prime Minister

After the peace process, the Maoists became a major political force in Nepal.

First Time as Prime Minister

Dahal (third from left), Baburam Bhattarai (fourth from left) during a meeting.

Dahal met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in June 2006. This was his first visit to Kathmandu in over ten years. They reached a peace agreement to form a new government and write a new constitution. They also agreed to disarm later under international supervision.

In the 2008 elections, Dahal's party won the most seats. He was elected as prime minister by the Constituent Assembly on August 15, 2008. He promised that his party would work with others to create the new constitution. He also assured other countries, like India and China, that Nepal wanted good relationships. He resigned in May 2009 after a disagreement about removing the army chief.

Second Time as Prime Minister

In August 2016, Pushpa Kamal Dahal was elected as Prime Minister of Nepal for a second time. He was the 24th prime minister since Nepal became a multi-party democracy in 1990. He was also the eighth prime minister since the monarchy was ended in 2008. He resigned from this position in May 2017.

Third Time as Prime Minister

Pushpa Kamal Dahal became prime minister for the third time on December 25, 2022. This happened after the 2022 general election. He won a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives in January 2023.

He later changed his political alliances. In March 2024, he formed a new government with the CPN (UML) and other smaller parties. However, in July 2024, the CPN (UML) left this group. On July 12, 2024, Dahal lost a vote of confidence in the parliament. This led to the end of his third time as prime minister.

Personal Details

In 1969, Pushpa Kamal Dahal married Sita Poudel when he was fifteen years old. They had four children: three daughters, including Renu Dahal, and one son. Sita Poudel passed away in July 2023.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal facts for kids

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