Prakash Sharan Mahat has been appointed Nepali Congress spokesperson.

“Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba appointed Mahat as the spokesperson on Monday,” said Govinda Pariyar, press chief to Deuba.

Mahat, a Congress Central Working Committee member, is a former foreign minister.

He will take over the party spokespersons post from Bishwa Prakash Sharma, who was elected general secretary from the 14th general convention of the Nepali Congress in December last year.

Mahat, who has served as joint general secretary in the past, lost the general secretary post election during the last convention.

Deuba on January 1 had nominated Mahat as a Central Working Committee member.

Mahat, 63, holds a PhD in economics from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois, US.

He is considered close to party President and Prime Minister Deuba.

After assuming office as prime minister in July last year, Deuba in October had sent a party delegation led by Mahat to India.