The government has recommended the chief economic advisor to Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli, Yuba Raj Khatiwada, for the post of Nepal's ambassador to America.
The Cabinet meeting on Thursday has decided to recommend the former finance minister as envoy to America. The Cabinet also recommended Lok Darshan Regmi, who resigned from chief secretary, for the post of ambassador to the Great Britain.
Sources claim that PM Oli had asked Regmi to resign before his term was to end and the latter put appointment as envoy to Britain as a condition for that. Had Regmi served until his term ended on October 19, Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi, who was named the new chief secretary during the Cabinet meeting Thursday, would have retired on October 8.
The parliamentary hearing committee will have to endorse Khatiwada and Regmi before being appointed as envoys by the president.
Khatiwada was recently appointed as an advisor with perks and benefits of a minister.
Khatiwada, who also filled in as the government spokesperson and communication and information technology minister since Gokul Baskota resigned over the audio tape alleging him of dealing for bribe, had resigned as finance minister on September 4.
His term as the National Assembly member had ended on March 3 after two years following drawing of lottery. Khatiwada had been serving as minister despite not being a federal lawmaker but he could no longer continue as a minister without being a lawmaker for over six months.
The Constitution does not allow non-lawmaker to serve as minister for more than six months.
PM Oli wanted to again nominate Khatiwada to the National Assembly and continue him as finance minister arguing there are no other competent persons to handle the economy in the current difficult situation. But Oli had to relent and recommend CPN Vice-chairman Bam Dev Gautam to the National Assembly after failing to convince the nine-strong secretariat.
