Krishna Bahadur Mahara

Krishna Bahadur Mahara is a Nepalese politician, belonging to the Nepal Communist Party (NCP). He was a prominent Maoist leader during the civil war. After the maoists entered the peace process, he was elected to parliament/constituent-assembly multiple times, and also became cabinet minister. Following his election to the house of representatives in the 2017 legislative election, he was elected House Speaker but resigned in October 2019 after allegations of attempted rape were made by a parliamentary staffer. He was acquitted in February 2020.[2]

Krishna Bahadur Mahara
कृष्ण बहादुर महरा
Speaker of the Pratinidhi Sabha
In office
10 March 2018 – 1 October 2019
PresidentBidhya Devi Bhandari
DeputyShiva Maya Tumbahamphe
Preceded byOnsari Gharti Magar
(as Speaker of Constituent Assembly of Nepal)
Succeeded byAgni Sapkota
Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal)
In office
1 April 2007 [1] – 17 September 2007
PresidentRam Baran Yadav
Prime MinisterGirija Prasad Koirala
Preceded byBhim Bahadur Rawal
Succeeded byBijay Kumar Gachhadar
Minister of Information and Communications
Preceded byDilendra Prasad Badu
Succeeded byGirija Prasad Koirala
Member of Parliament, Pratinidhi Sabha
In office
4 March 2018 – 18 September 2022
Preceded bySushila Chaudhary
Succeeded byRekha Sharma
ConstituencyDang 2
In office
May 1991 – August 1994
Preceded byConstituency created
Succeeded bySurendra Hamal
ConstituencyRolpa 2
Member of Constituent Assembly
In office
21 January 2014 – 14 October 2017
Preceded byJaypuri Gharti
Succeeded byBarsaman Pun
ConstituencyRolpa 1
In office
28 May 2008 – 28 May 2012
Preceded byKrishna Kishor Ghimire
Succeeded byRaju Khanal
ConstituencyDang 3
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
2017
Preceded byPrakash Sharan Mahat
Succeeded bySher Bahadur Deuba
as Prime Minister
Personal details
Born (1958-06-29) 29 June 1958 (age 65)
Liwang Rolpa District Nepal
Political partyCPN (Maoist Centre)
Other political
affiliations
CPN (Unity Centre)
Nepal Communist Party
SpouseSita Mahara
Children4
Parents
  • Ravichan Mahara (father)
  • Samundra Devi Mahara (mother)

Career edit

In the April 2008 Constituent Assembly election he was elected from the Dang-3 constituency, winning 20784 votes. He was subsequently appointed as Minister of Information and Communication in the Cabinet headed by CPN (M) Chairman Prachanda and sworn in on 22 August 2008.[3]

Controversies edit

In September 2019, an employee of the parliament secretariat came forward alleging attempted rape by a drunk Mahara at her apartment on the night of 29 September.[4] Mahara resigned as Speaker on 1 October at the behest of his party,[5] and was subsequently arrested.[6]

Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been arrested and brought to Kathmandu for investigation into his alleged involvement in a major gold smuggling case.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Ex-Ministers of MOIC". www.moic.gov.np. Ministry of Information and Communications. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Nepal's former parliament speaker acquitted of rape charges". Los Angeles Times. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Cabinet formed including MJF, UML fails to join"[permanent dead link], Nepalnews, 22 August 2008.
  4. ^ "Parliament Sectt staffer accuses Mahara of rape". The Himalayan Times. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Speaker Mahara offers 'temporary resignation' following accusation of rape". The Himalayan Times. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Nepal's speaker arrested over alleged staff rape". 7 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  7. ^ PTI (18 March 2024). "Nepal's former Speaker arrested for alleged involvement in gold smuggling case". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 March 2024.

See also edit