KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba was elected the parliamentary party leader of the largest party in the Parliament, defeating the party's senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel.

Deuba's vote count (139) is five more than double of his opponent Paudel's (67). The party has 207 members in the Parliament.

Now, if the party gets any chance to lead the government, Deuba will become the party's official prime ministerial candidate as per the party tradition. He will also be an ex-officio member of the Constitutional Council as the chief of the opposition in the Parliament.

The Congress lawmakers had cast votes to elect their leader today.

The post was vacant since February 9 when the then party President and PP leader Sushil Koirala died.

Total 206 votes were cast and none was declared invalid as the party had used electronic voting machine. Lawmaker from Kathmandu-5 Narahari Acharya could not cast his vote as he is bedridden for last two months.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary party would elect other office-bearers on Friday.

'Have more responsibilities'

Meanwhile, Deuba said he had more responsibilities on his shoulders now.

"This election is the internal democratic exercise of the party," Deuba told reporters after the result announcement, "There is no win and loss, it is the question of only who got what responsibility."

"We got to work towards making the country prosperous and strengthening the federal democratic republic. I will dedicate myself to this as far as my capacity," he added.

Meanwhile, Paudel called Deuba after the election and congratulated him.

Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj also called Deuba for congratulation.

(With inputs from the Rastriya Samachar Samiti)