Prachanda (Nepali: प्रचण्ड, pronounced ; born Chhabilal Dahal on 11 December 1954, later Pushpa Kamal Dahal) is a Nepalese politician. He was the Prime Minister of Nepal from 18 August 2008, to 25 May 2009. A communist revolutionary, politician, and former guerrilla leader, he is the Chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)—the largest political party in Nepal, according to the results of the 2008 election. Under his leadership, the CPN (M) launched the Nepalese Civil War on 13 February 1996, in which about 13,000 people died in fighting between the party and the government.

Prachanda's extension of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism to take specific account of Nepal's situation is known as the Prachanda Path. "Prachanda" is a party name along the lines of "Lenin" and "Hồ Chí Minh". "Prachanda" literally means "fierce one".

The Constituent Assembly elected Prachanda as Prime Minister on 15 August 2008. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on 18 August 2008. Prachanda resigned from the post on 4 May 2009 after his move to sack General Rookmangud Katawal, the army chief, was opposed by President Ram Baran Yadav. He remained in office until 23 May 2009, when his successor was elected.