Following the conclusion of the election of the National Assembly, the federal upper house, the chief ministers of all seven provinces have been quickly finalized. How well do you know these provincial government heads? Here is a primer into their lives and achievements.
Sherdhan Rai, Province 1
The CPN-UML politburo member was born in Aamchowk, Bhojpur to Jagirman and Ramrimaya Rai on Feb 13, 1971. Rai, who has a Masters in Sociology, started his political career in 1988. He spent his first three years in politics underground at the fag-end of the Panchayat rule. Rai has risen through the UML via his long-time involvement in its student wing. He won a seat to the new provincial assembly from Bhojpur 1 (B) constituency.
Mohammad Lal Babu Raut, Province 2
The Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum leader, who was born on June 22, 1966, is the sole Madhesi as well as the sole Muslim to be elected chief minister. A resident of Jagaranathpur rural municipality in Parsa, Raut has an MA in English as well as an LLB. He has over a decade of teaching experience in Thakuram Multiple Campus in Birgunj. Raut, an active participant in various Madhesi uprisings, won the provincial election from Parsa 1 (B) constituency.
Dor Mani Poudel, Province 3
The CPN-UML lawmaker in the Province 3 assembly was born on March 28, 1946. He is best known for his innovative development plans for Hetauda municipality. Poudel has twice served in the capacity of the mayor of Hetauda. Active in politics for the past 38 years, he has been jailed four times in his political career. He was elected to the provincial assembly from Makawanpur constituency 1 (B).
Prithvi Subba Gurung, Province 4
The CPN-UML Secretary, known for his humility and intellectual bent, was born on Feb 12, 1958, to Ganga Prasad and Chini Gurung, in Taxar of Lamjung district. Gurung is a graduate in science and a teacher by profession and has been in active politics since 1977. In the recent provincial election, he was elected from Lamjung 1 (B) constituency.
Shankar Pokhrel, Province 5
UML standing committee member Shankar Pokhrel, born in 1964 in Bijauri of Dang district, is no stranger to power, having served in senior roles both in his party and the government previously. He is known for his organizational strength. Thought of as particularly close to party chairman KP Sharma Oli, Pokhrel was elected chief minister unopposed when the UML’s Province 5 Parliamentary Party unanimously approved his name. Pokhrel was elected to the provincial assembly from Dang 2 (A) constituency.
Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Province 6 (nominated)
The CPN (Maoist Center) leader was a minister for energy in the outgoing government of Sher Bahadur Deuba. Shahi was a divisional commander in the Maoist military. Born in 1976, Shahi won the provincial elections from Kalikot 1 (B) constituency, beating his party colleague, Naresh Bhandari of Jumla, as the main chief minister contender.
Trilochan Bhatta, Province 7
The second Maoist leader to be selected chief minister, Bhatta was born in 1969 to father Prasad and mother Saradadevi. Bhatta is an old figure in Nepali communist movement, even though he might not be a familiar face in national politics. In 2006 he was nominated the chief of the Doti chapter of the mother Maoist party. Bhatta was elected to provincial assembly from Doti 1 (B) constituency.
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