Pushpa Kamal Dahal also known as Prachanda, is a Nepalese politician and the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre). He has been Prime Minister of Nepal since 2016; previously he was Prime Minister from 2008 to 2009.

Dahal 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 Dahal as Prime Minister in August 2008. He resigned as Prime Minister on 4 May 2009 after his attempt to sack the army chief, General Rookmangud Katawal, was opposed by President Ram Baran Yadav.

Dahal is also widely known by his nom de guerre “Prachanda”, a name he went by during his guerrilla days. In Nepali and some other Indo-Aryan languages languages, the word Prachanda is an adjective that translates to “fierce”.