The placatory promise does not prevent Jha from losing face.

Nepal's first vice president, who had declared he would rather resign than take the oath again under duress in Nepali, will now have to undergo the ceremony again or quit or be sacked.

The storm erupted last year after Jha, a former judge himself, chose to take the oath of office in Hindi. He also chose to wear the dhoti and kurta favoured by the Terai people instead of Nepal's national dress, the daura suruwal, consisting of tight trousers and a long shirt.

Hindi, though understood by a large number of Nepalis, is still eschewed by them for official purpose since it is regarded essentially as an Indian language. A public opinion poll taken after the vice president row showed over 80 percent of the respondents blaming him.

Asked if he would quit or take the oath again, Jha had said he would leave it to the people to decide.