Oli recommended National Assembly members sworn-in

KATHMANDU, March 9: The three government-recommended National Assembly (NA) members, Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Ram Narayan Bidari and Dr Bimala Poudel have taken oath of office and secrecy on Friday.

The senior-most member of NA, Tara Devi Bhatta administered oath to the three members at the Baneshwor-based International Convention Center.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court had removed barrier on Khatiwada, Bidari and Poudel, who were recommended by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, allowing them to take oath as NA members.

A division bench of Justices Kedar Prasad Chalise and Sharada Prasad Ghimire issued the order stating that it was not necessary to implement its previous interlocutory order on nomination of three members to the National Assembly.

A caretaker government led by Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, on February 11, 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.

Oli-led government then, overturning Deuba’s recommendation, had named former Rastriya Bank Governor Khatiwada, senior advocate and former lawmaker Bidari and Poudel who was formerly at the President’s secretariat.

But NC, showing serious reservation over government’s move to withdraw Deuba’s recommendation and nominate new faces, had moved the SC.

The SC then had issued interlocutory order in the name of government not to administer oath to the three NA members recommended by Prime Minister Oli. Due to the SC’s order, Khadiwada, Bidari and Poudel were not administered oath in the swearing-in ceremony held on March 4.