KATHMANDU, 14 July 2021, (TON): Sher Bahadur Deuba was sworn in as prime minister of Nepal, after hours of delay following controversy over the statement from the Office of the President on the appointment of the Nepali Congress leader.

Earlier in the day, President Bidya Devi Bhandari had appointed Deuba as prime minister, in line with Supreme Court verdict.

The oath ceremony was initially scheduled for 6pm, but it was delayed after the Congress party took exception to the Office of the President’s statement that did not mention the constitutional provision under which Deuba was appointed the prime minister.

A statement from the President Office said “President Bidya Devi Bhandari has appointed Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader and member of the House of Representative, Sher Bahadur Deuba, as prime minister as per the July 12, 2021 verdict of the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court.”

Passing a verdict on Oli’s House dissolution on May 21 and President Bhandari’s rejection of Deuba’s claim the same day to the post of prime minister, the Constitutional Bench ordered restoration of the Parliament and Deuba’s appointment as prime minister as per Article 76 (5) of the Constitution of Nepal.