Nepal ? After spending a decade leading a communist insurgency in the mountains of Nepal, former top rebel Prachanda became the newest member Saturday of an assembly that will chart the Himalayan country’s future.

Prachanda, whose rebel nom de guerre means “the fierce one,” led a powerful showing by the former Maoists rebels in early results from Thursday’s elections. The vote is expected to usher in sweeping changes to the Himalayan country and likely signals the end of a 239-year-old royal dynasty.

The Maoists, who are still considered a terrorist group by the United States, have so far won 20 out of the 34 constituencies where counting has been completed, the Election Commission said Saturday.