KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has been elected the 38th Prime Minister of the nation, defeating Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala. In the voting held at the Parliament meeting today, Oli garnered 338 votes, 39 more than 299 votes that he needed to be elected as the Prime Minister. Koirala, however, got only 249 votes in his support. Total 587 members had cast their votes in the election. Lawmakers were not allowed to stay neutral during the voting. After announcement of the poll results, Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang declared Oli as the Prime Minister for the nation as per Article 298(3) of the Constitution. READ ALSO: New Prime Minister vows to work together with all parties While Nembang was yet to announce the complete results, lawmakers of various parties had congratulated Nembang. Members of the Parliament were seen shaking hands with the new PM and honouring him with khadas. Nembang had urged them to wait awhile so as to finish announcing the results first. While Oli was backed by UCPN-Maoist, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic and some fringe parties; four Madhes-centric parties in the United Democratic Madhesi Front had supported the NC leader. Earlier, Koirala was elected the Nepali Prime Minister with the overwhelming support from CPN-UML, in February 2014. Meanwhile, Speaker Nembang adjourned the House till Monday. Know your new PM KP Sharma Oli represents Jhapa-7 in the Parliament. The 63-year-old leader was elected Chief of the CPN-UML in July 2014, defeating Madhav Kumar Nepal in the party's ninth general convention. He was chief of UML's International Department before being elected to the top position of the party. Oli served as the nation's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs in Girija Prasad Koirala-led interim government formed immediately after the 2006 People's Movement. Back in 1994, he was the Minister for Home Affairs in the Cabinet led by the then UML Chairman Man Mohan Adhikari. He was elected a member of the Parliament thrice - in 1991, 1994 and 1999 - from various constituencies of Jhapa district. He began his political career in 1966 from Jhapa district.