A new chapter unfolded in Nepal’s parliamentary history when Ruby Kumari Thakur, at just 26 years old, was voted in as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives on Friday. Her election not only highlights the rise of young leaders but also fulfills constitutional requirements for gender representation in top legislative roles.
Representing the Labour and Culture Party through a proportional seat, Thakur garnered backing from the influential Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and allies, ensuring a landslide victory. With 256 members present, she received 229 votes, dwarfing the 5 votes for opponent Saraswati Lama of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. The remaining 22 lawmakers chose not to participate.
Under Nepal’s constitution, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions must be occupied by different parties, with at least one being a woman. This came days after RSP’s Dol Prasad Aryal was elected Speaker unopposed on April 4, setting the stage perfectly for Thakur.
Hailing from Mujeliya in Dhanusha district, Thakur was born in 2000 into a modest family. One of six children, she watched her father Sogarth Thakur toil as a laborer in Saudi Arabia. Currently on leave, he witnessed his daughter’s ascent.
Post her 10th standard, Thakur earned a civil engineering diploma from Balra Polytechnic and worked briefly at an architecture firm, sending money home to aid her family.
Drawn to politics by Dharan ex-Mayor Hark Sampang’s vision for the Labour Shakti Party, Thakur made her electoral debut on March 5 under Madhesi proportional representation. Her swift rise to Deputy Speaker exemplifies determination and the potential for grassroots leaders to effect change.
Experts view Thakur’s success as a beacon for youth empowerment, promising fresher perspectives in Nepal’s governance amid ongoing calls for reform.
