Kathmandu, March 10 -- The composition of the upper house of the federal parliament has changed following the newly elected members of the National Assembly (NA) taking the oath of office on Monday. Seventeen members elected on January 25 were sworn in after 18 seats had fallen vacant.

One seat that must be filled through presidential nomination on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers remains vacant.

National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal administered the oath of office on Monday to nine members from the Nepali Congress, eight from the CPN-UML and one from the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (JSP-Nepal).

The Congress and the UML had formed an alliance in the National Assembly elections held on January 25. Seventeen members...