Cabinet overturns Deuba’s pick, recommends three names for NA members

KATHMANDU, Feb 20: A Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday morning at prime minister’s official residence in Baluwatar has recommended three names for the National Assembly (NA), overturning former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s proposal.

The meeting has recommended Yubaraj Khatiwada, Bimala Poudel and Ram Narayan Bidari as NA members. Khatiwada is a Nepal Rastra Bank governor, while Poudel was formerly at President Bidhya Bhandari’s secretariat. Bidari is a senior advocate and a former lawmaker.

Khatiwada and Poudel are close to UML while Bidari is a supporter of CPN (Maoist Center).

Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Thammaya Thapa confirmed the recommendation of three names for the posts of NA members.

Of the total 59-memmber upper house, 56 NA members have been elected through voting while constitution provision three members to be picked by the President upon the recommendation of the government.

Earlier, erstwhile Deuba had picked Krishna Prasad Paudel, Gopal Basnet and Chandani Joshi for the positions.  But President Bidya Devi Bhandari had put the names on hold citing Deuba’s recommendation were unilateral and done without consultation with other major parties.