Third time lucky for new Nepal PM?

Deuba: Another political comeback

Sher Bahadur Deuba's career up until now has been characterised by highs and lows.

He has been appointed prime minister twice before amid much optimism that he could bring stability to his troubled country.

But on both occasions he was ignominiously removed from power.

He faces a tough test if he is to avoid losing the premiership for a third time.

The country is in the grip of a civil war against Maoist rebels, and parliament has been suspended for two years.

Nine years imprisonment

Mr Deuba was born in the west of Nepal in 1946. He became a prominent student leader while attending university in Kathmandu and at the London School of Economics.

He was jailed for nine years for his part in the pro-democracy movement which culminated in then King Birendra relinquishing his absolute powers in 1990.

I will initiate dialogue with all political parties to bring them in the government Sher Bahadur Deuba

Mr Deuba was home minister for the first three years of the newly-elected Congress party government.

His first stint as prime minister was as leader of a three-party centre-right coalition from 1995-1997.

It was an unwieldy alliance of parties which he constantly struggled to hold together despite his ability to convince political rivals to make compromises.

He lost office in a no-confidence vote in which two members of his own coalition failed to show up and support him.

He became prime minister again in the Nepali Congress government of 2000-2002, and initiated peace talks with Maoist rebels which broke down.

Sacked

It was Mr Deuba who first took the decision to deploy the army against the rebels.

Mr Deuba was arrested in Kathmandu in April during protests against the king

But he was sacked in October by King Gyanendra who accused him of failing to organise elections on time.

The monarch was also unhappy with the breakdown of peace talks with the Maoists, and the failure of the security forces to stifle their rebellion.

Mr Deuba's political comeback is something of a personal victory following his unceremonious removal from office two years ago.

His priorities will be to kick-start peace talks with the Maoists and persuade political parties currently boycotting parliament to bring their campaign to an end so that elections can take place.