Dev Gurung

Dev Gurung (Nepali: देव गुरुङ) is a Nepalese politician, belonging to the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). Gurung became Minister of Law and Justice on August 22, 2008.^[1] In 2002, B.S., Gurung became the president of the All Nepal National Free Students Union.^[2]

After the party had declared People's War in 1996, Gurung was arrested. Following the arrest the party killed a village committee chairman in Gorkha district, accusing him of responsibility for the capture of Gurung.^[3]

Gurung was released by the state, in exchange for a police officer, Thule Rai, who had been captured by the Maoists.^[2] During the last phases of the war, Gurung formed part of the Maoist talks team during peace negotiations.^[4][5]

After the fall of King Gyanendra's direct rule in 2006, Gurung was nominated to the interim legislature of Nepal.^[6] Gurung became the deputy leader of the Maoist legislative group.^[7]

In December 2006, as the CPN(M) leadership was reorganised, Gurung was included in the 11-member central secretariat of the party. Gurung was assigned to lead the ethnic front work of the party.^[8]

When the Maoists joined the government in April 2007, Gurung was included as Minister for Local Development.^[9] Along with the rest of the Maoist ministers, he resigned from his position in September 2007.^[10] In December 2007, the Maoists rejoined the government and Gurung again became Minister for Local Development.^[11]

In April 2008, he won the Manang seat in the Constituent Assembly election, defeating the sitting Nepali Congress MP Palten Gurung. Dev Gurung got 1652 votes whereas Palten Gurung got 1209 votes. The CPN(UML) candidate in the constituency, Mangal Gurung, had withdrawn his candidature in order to enable the victory of Dev Gurung.^[12] After extended power-sharing discussions between parties, Gurung was appointed as Minister of Law and Justice in a Cabinet headed by CPN (M) Chairman Prachanda and sworn in on August 22, 2008.^[1]

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