CPN (UML) lawmaker, Subash Nemwang, has been elected unopposed to post of Speaker of the House of Representatives on Saturday.

Nemwang was the sole candidate to contest for the post. He will be declared new Speaker of the reinstated House of Representatives this afternoon.

A former minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Nemwang is considered a close confidante of UML. He was also actively involved in the people’s movement as one of the members of the ‘Jana Andolan central coordination committee.’

Nemwang’s unanimous election to the post of Speaker became possible after Nepali Congress (Democratic) – one of the constituents of the SPA—decided to withdraw its claim for the post. Earlier, the party had lobbied to get its member and deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav to get elected for the coveted post.

As the reinstated House has already decided to go for constituent assembly elections, analysts say the role of the Speaker would be crucial in ensuring smooth constitutional transition.