Kathmandu , Nepal ( CNN ) -- After more than seven months of political gridlock , Nepal 's parliament Thursday elected a 60-year-old leftist leader as the country 's new prime minister . Jhala Nath Khanal , chairman of the leftist Communist Party of Nepal ( Unified Marxist-Leninist ) , received 368 votes in the 601-member parliament . His nearest rival , Ram Chandra Poudel of the Nepali Congress , got 122 votes and Bijay Kumar Gachhedar of Madhesi People 's Rights Forum ( Democratic ) got 67 votes . Before the vote , Khanal said in parliament that resolving the political complexities of the country would be his first priority . Khanal faces the challenge of preparing -- with the support of other parties -- a new republican constitution by a May 28 deadline and finalizing an agreement on the future of nearly 20,000 Maoist combatants . The country had been without a proper government since outgoing and caretaker prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned in June . Sixteen rounds of voting in parliament since July failed to produce a prime minister since none of the parties had a majority . Nepal 's biggest party , the Unified Communist Party of Nepal ( Maoist ) , decided to withdraw its own candidate earlier Thursday and back Khanal . He becomes the third prime minister since Nepal became a republic in 2008 , ending centuries of monarchy rule . He replaces Nepal , who was also of the same party but had the support of Nepali Congress , the second biggest party in parliament . The Maoists fought a 10-year insurgency to end the monarchy and signed a peace deal in 2006 in which the combatants were to be integrated into the security forces , but the exact process of how that will be accomplished has yet to be agreed upon between the parties . The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu congratulated the people of Nepal on the election . `` We look forward to working with incoming Prime Minister Khanal and continuing the warm and constructive relationship between the United States and Nepal , '' a statement from the embassy said . `` We are hopeful that today 's election will give renewed momentum to the peace process and constitution drafting . '' United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also praised the election , according to a spokesman . `` He congratulates the Prime Minister-elect and reaffirms the support of the United Nations to all efforts to complete the peace process and to adopt a new constitution , '' a statement from Ban 's spokesman said . `` He believes this development will give a significant boost to efforts to fully implement their outstanding commitments under the Comprehensive Peace Accord and the interim constitution , notably the integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants , democratization of the army and adoption of a new constitution . '' Earlier Thursday , Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda ' withdrew his candidacy for the prime minister race , saying that his party would concentrate on the constitution and the future of the combatants . He said he realized he was not going to win and the country needed a proper government . `` There is a need for sacrifice to resolve the problems , '' Dahal said . `` The Maoists , since it is the biggest party , should take this responsibility . '' The communist leader said that if parliament could not elect a prime minister again , people would throw shoes at the politicians -- a high insult in certain cultures . There has been widespread discontent among the Nepalese about the political stalemate . Last month , prime minister-elect Khanal was slapped in the face by 52-year-old man at a political rally , who accused the politicians of being selfish . Nepal 's political crisis began when Dahal resigned as prime minister in May 2009 after the ceremonial president , who is the supreme commander of the army , reinstated the army chief Dahal had fired .
NEW : U.S. , U.N. praise the election of the prime minister . On its 17th try , Nepal 's parliament elects a new prime minister . Khanal must prepare a new constitution . He 's the third prime minister since the end of the monarchy in 2008 .