Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narasingha KC, the eldest member of the newly elected House of Representatives, took his oath of office and secrecy before President Ramchandra Paudel on Wednesday at Sheetal Niwas.

KC, born in 1947, was elected under the proportional representation system and is currently the eldest among all elected members of Parliament.

According to the Federal Parliament Secretariat, KC will assume a key procedural role in the House until the election of the Speaker. He will administer the oath to all newly elected members of the House on Thursday.

The Secretariat said preparations are underway to hold the swearing-in ceremony at the multipurpose hall of the new Federal Parliament building.

Article 91(5) of the Constitution provides that in the absence of both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, House proceedings are presided over by the eldest member present. The Secretariat said KC will carry out that responsibility until the leadership positions are elected.