September 4: The ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has decided to recommend the party’s vice chairman Bamdev Gautam for the vacant position of National Assembly member to be nominated by the president.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was in favour of nominating Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada for another term but he was under mounting pressure to recommend Gautam for the post to maintain internal balance and cordial relation within the party.

NCP Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha confirmed that the secretariat meeting of the party held at PM’s official residence in Baluwatar on Thursday (September 3) decided to recommend Gautam’s name.

Khatiwada has to be re-appointed as member of the upper house of parliament to continue as finance minister after September 5. However, Khatiwada’s chances of continuing his office as the finance minister has been all but ended with the  party’s decision to choose Gautam.

However, Khatiwada still has slim chances of remaining in office provided that the party orders any one of the two nominated MPs to resign for re-appointing Khatiwada. However, the secretariat meeting on Thursday did not discuss this issue, informed party spokesperson Shrestha.

The secretariat meeting had decided to recommend Gautam’s name six months ago. But the party had courted controversy for not implementing the decision.

Khatiwada’s first term in office had ended on March 3 but he got nominated as upper house member by the president six months ago upon PM Oli’s recommendation. Without being a member of parliament, Khatiwada cannot continue as finance minister. He current holds the portfolio of Communication and Information Minister as well.