Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada has resigned Friday.
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, sent the resignation to Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli through the chief secretary in the evening.
He had announced during the Cabinet meeting earlier Friday that he will resign. He had briefed the Cabinet about the works he did for almost an hour. He then went to the Finance Ministry, and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to bid adieu to the staffers.
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 can no longer after Saturday as it will be over six months without him being a lawmaker.
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.
