Nanda Bahadur Pun: Former chief of rebel army is now Nepal's Vice-President
KATHMANDU: Nepal's newly elected Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun (50) was born in Rangsi village of Rolpa district on October 23, 1965. Popularly known as Nanda Kishor Pun or Pasang, Pun was Chief Commander of the then CPN-Maoist's People's Liberation Army during the armed conflict.
In early years of his career, Pun taught at a lower secondary school in his village for nine years.
Pun had begun his political journey from his home district as a student cadre of the CPN-Unity Centre. He is now a standing committee member of the UCPN-Maoist since 2013.
Before joining the Maoist party, he was elected a member of CPN-Mashal in 1990 and a full-time member of CPN-Unity Centre Mashal in 1992.
He was made one of the four Commanders of the PLA in early 2000s. He led the force as the Chief Commander from 2008 till conclusion of the army integration.
As the chief of rebel army, Pun made a significant contribution in completion of the peace process including army integration.
Pun had contested in the second Constituent Assembly elections from Kathmandu-4. He, however, was defeated by popular Nepali Congress leader Gagan Kumar Thapa.
Pun is considered a nationalist leader within UCPN-Maoist. He had refused to go to India for treatment when both of his kidneys failed in 2012. Later, he was successfully treated in Nepal.
Before his election to the post of Vice-President, he has never taken any office of benefit from the state.
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