Dol Prasad Aryal, the vice president of Nepal’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has officially assumed the role of the House of Representatives Speaker. He was inaugurated on Sunday by President Ramchandra Paudel at a ceremony held at Kathmandu’s Shital Niwas.
Immediately after his swearing-in, Dol Prasad (DP) Aryal took office, following his uncontested election earlier in the day, supported by his party’s significant majority. The upcoming House session is scheduled for Monday afternoon, where Dol Prasad Aryal will oversee the proceedings.
Dol Prasad Aryal’s journey has been marked by challenges. Born in 1974 in Maidi village, Dhading district, he ventured to Kathmandu in 1992 in pursuit of a better life. His early days in the city were arduous, working at a restaurant doing menial tasks to make ends meet.
Over time, he progressed from odd jobs to becoming a tourist guide and eventually lived in Japan for nearly eight years, gaining valuable experience and a broader perspective. Upon his return to Nepal, he ventured into business, investing in tourism, education, and remittance services, leading to job creation. He later ascended to the position of a remittance company’s chief executive.
Parallel to his business endeavors, Dol Prasad Aryal actively engaged in social initiatives, contributing to a community hospital’s construction in Kalikot and participating in COVID-19 relief efforts, including distributing oxygen cylinders.
In 2022, he entered politics with the establishment of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, quickly advancing within the party and becoming a key aide to party leader Rabi Lamichhane. He also assumed the role of acting president during an internal crisis.
Having been elected to Parliament from Kathmandu constituency-9, he later served as the Minister for Labour and Employment. Despite a brief initial tenure, he returned to the same position when the party rejoined the government.
Regarded as a composed and judicious leader within the party, Dol Prasad Aryal’s appointment as Speaker positions him in a crucial constitutional role, often considered the fourth-highest office in the country.