Interestingly, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav (61 yrs), from Madeshi ethnicity has been elected as the first President of Republican Nepal after three months long deadlock. Dr. Yadav bagged 308 votes and was able defeat his close opponent Mr. Ram Raja Singh of CP-Maoist who got 282 votes.

Dr. Yadav, a candidate of Nepali Congress is a medical doctor by profession. Born in a simple farmer family in Dhanusa district in Terai, Dr. Yadav is taken as a prominent leader of NC. He was elected as a CA member of NC from constituency-5 of Dhanusha district. Dr. Yadav served twice as Minister of Health in past decade and since past years he was appointed as general secretary of the party. Dr. Yadav, however is against the demand of ‘Autonomous Madesh’, is considered as the fearless leader of NC who has different opinion on Madeshi issues.

The presidential candidate of NC was widely supported by CPN-UML, Madeshi People’s Rights Forum and other smaller parties by forming an alliance against CPN-Maoist.After loosing the presidential election, CPN-Maoist, said not to join the government however there has been no official response to this issue.

Nepal now has its President and Vice-President from Madeshi community, as it’s Vice –President Mr. Parmananda Jha of Madeshi People’s Rights Forum was elected on 19th July 2008.

Dr. Yadav is expected to act as a constitutional President who can work along party lines, ethnic groups and hence be able to meet peoples aspiration.