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Nepal Elects 26-Year-Old Rubi Kumari Thakur as Youngest-Ever Deputy Speaker

Rubi Kumari Thakur has been elected as the Deputy Speaker of Nepal's House of Representatives, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the position at age 26. She secured the post with 229 votes, backed crucially by the Rastriya Swatantra Party which holds a near two-thirds majority. Thakur comes from a modest background, with her father working as a migrant laborer, and she previously worked in an architecture firm. Her entry into politics was inspired by Hark Sampang, who nominated her as a proportional representation candidate.

Key Points: Nepal's Youngest Deputy Speaker, Rubi Thakur, Elected at 26

  • Elected with 229 votes
  • Backed by Rastriya Swatantra Party
  • From a humble migrant worker family
  • Constitutional rule ensures gender representation
  • One of youngest lawmakers in House
2 min read

26-year-old Rubi Kumari Thakur elected as Nepal's youngest-ever Deputy Speaker

Rubi Kumari Thakur, 26, becomes Nepal's youngest Deputy Speaker, marking a generational shift in politics with backing from the Rastriya Swatantra Party.

"Her entry into politics was unexpected, as she was inspired by the political activities of Hark Sampang."

Kathmandu, April 10

Rubi Kumari Thakur, 26, has been elected as the Deputy Speaker of Nepal's House of Representatives on Friday, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the position as the country's politics witnesses a generational shift.

A lawmaker in the lower house elected through the proportional representation system from the Shram Sanskriti Party, Thakur secured the post with backing from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and other parties. Given that the RSP commands a nearly two-thirds majority in the lower house, its support proved crucial for her election.

Out of 256 lawmakers present in the House, Thakur secured 229 votes, while her rival Saraswati Lama from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party received five votes. A total of 22 lawmakers abstained from voting.

As per Nepal's Constitution, either the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker must be a woman, and the two positions must be held by members of different political parties.

On April 4, Dol Prasad Aryal, a leader from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, was declared elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives after emerging as the sole nominee for the post.

Thakur, born in 2000 in Mujeliya, Dhanusha district, comes from a humble background. Her father, Sogarath Thakur, has been working as a migrant laborer in Saudi Arabia and is currently on leave at home. The newly-elected Deputy Speaker is one of the six children of Sogarath.

After completing the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) following Grade 10, she pursued a three-year diploma in civil engineering-related studies at Balara Polytechnic in Dhanusha. According to local media reports, she later worked for seven months at an architecture consultancy firm, earning a modest salary and sending part of her income home to support her family.

Her entry into politics was unexpected, as she was inspired by the political activities of Hark Sampang, who founded the Shram Shakti Party. She subsequently became actively involved in promoting his vision.

For the March 5 elections, Sampang, former Mayor of Dharan Municipality, nominated her as a proportional representation candidate from the Madhesi cluster, through which she was elected to the House, becoming one of the youngest lawmakers from her party.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see a generational shift in our neighbouring country. Young leaders bring fresh perspectives. I hope this encourages more youth participation in politics here in India as well. The constitutional provision ensuring a woman holds one of the top posts is also commendable.
A
Aman W
While her story is motivating, I do hope her election was based on merit and capability, not just because she fulfilled a quota or was a convenient candidate for the ruling coalition. Young leaders must be truly prepared for such huge responsibilities.
S
Sarah B
Her background in civil engineering and work experience is interesting. Hopefully, she can bring that practical, problem-solving mindset to governance. Wishing her all the best in her new role.
V
Vikram M
From sending part of her salary home to support her family to becoming Deputy Speaker – what a journey! This is the kind of grassroots-to-leadership story we need to hear more often. It strengthens the India-Nepal bond when we see progress in our neighbourhood.
K
Kavya N
A young woman in such a high position is always welcome news. Hope she focuses on issues that matter to the youth and women of Nepal. The fact that she secured 229 votes shows strong cross-party support, which is a good sign for her tenure.

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