Pushpa Kamal Dahal born Chhabilal Dahal on 11 December 1954, commonly known as Prachanda is a Nepalese politician and chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPNM). He led a guerrilla war against the government and later served as Prime Minister of Nepal from 2008 to 2009. Prachanda led the CPN (M) as it launched a communist insurgency on 13 February 1996. In the ensuing civil war, more than 17,000 Nepalese died. Ultimately elections were held in 2008 and the CPN (M) emerged as the strongest party. The Constituent Assembly of Nepal elected Prachanda as Prime Minister in August 2008.
