KP Sharma Oli (right) is sworn in by Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav (left) as outgoing Prime Minister Sushil Koirala (second left) and  Chair of the Constituent Assembly Subhas Nerwang look on in Shital Niwas in Kathmandu on Monday.

AFP/Kathmandu

KP Sharma Oli was sworn in as Nepal's prime minister on Monday, tasked with unifying the quake-hit country after a new constitution triggered deadly protests, a border blockade and a nationwide fuel shortage.

Oli, a former deputy prime minister who heads one of Nepal's main communist parties, is credited with having pushed through a deal on the constitution after years of disagreement.

After his election on Sunday he urged political unity to try to resolve the stand-off with protesters from the country's Madhesi minority, who say the charter's terms will exclude them from power in the national assembly.

On Monday Oli appointed two deputy prime ministers from parties that opposed elements of the constitution passed in September, months after an earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 and left many more homeless.

They are Kamal Thapa, head of the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-N), and Bijay Kumar Gachhadar who leads one of Nepal's Madhesi parties.

Nepal's Maoists, who fought a 10-year civil war with the state that led to the fall of the monarchy, have also joined the ruling coalition government - meaning they will serve alongside Thapa's royalist RPP-N.

The country's largest party the Nepali Congress is expected to form the opposition after its candidate, former premier Sushil Koirala, lost out to Oli in Sunday's election for prime minister.

Oli has pledged to quell protests over the new constitution and end a blockade that has led to national fuel rationing, as well as accelerate reconstruction after the earthquake in April.

Landlocked Nepal is completely reliant on India for its fuel supplies. The blockade at a vital border checkpoint, and tightened security on the Indian side, has sparked a nationwide shortage.