On May 28, 2008, the newly-elected Constituent Assembly declared Nepal the Federal Democratic Republic, abolishing the 240-year-old monarchy. The motion for the abolition of the monarchy was carried by a huge majority: out of 564 members present in the assembly, 560 voted for the motion while 4 members voted against it.[22] On June 11, 2008, ex-King Gyanendra left the palace.[23] Ram Baran Yadav of the Nepali Congress became the first President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal on July 23, 2008. Similarly, the Constituent Assembly elected Pushpa Kamal Dahal (popularly known as Prachanda) of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) as the first Republican Prime Minister on August 15, 2008, favoring him over Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress Party.