KATHMANDU: The decision of the government to nominate ambassadors to different countries is likely to create new disputes in the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).
A Cabinet meeting held on Thursday morning nominated Special Economic Adviser to PM Oli, Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada to US Ambassador to the USA.
Party insiders said NCP Executive Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” is “displeased” with what has been dubbed a “unilateral” decision made by the cabinet.
Dr. Khatiwada, who is from a non-political background, has been getting one after other posts. He was given the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance as a nominated member of the National Assembly. Khatiwada later resigned in March after his term as a member of the upper house expired. He remained a member of the National Assembly for two years during March 2018-February 2020.
Less than 24 hours after his resignation, Khatiwada was reappointed as the Minister for Finance and also Communications and Information Technology. At the time of the reappointment, Khatiwada had to become a member of one of the two Houses of the Parliament within six months to continue serving as a minister.
He resigned on September 4 after the ruling Nepal Communist Party Secretariat meeting’s decision to take the party’s Vice Chairman Bamdev Gautam to the National Assembly. He had been appointed as the finance minister for six months as per Article 78 of the Constitution of Nepal.
Within ten days after his resignation, Khatiwada was appointed as Special Economic Adviser to Prime Oli with minister-level facilities.
Khatiwada has served as Member and Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Governor of the National Bank, Member of the National Assembly, Finance Minister, Advisor to the Prime Minister and now has been appointed as Nepal’s Ambassador to the United States.
Khatiwada joined Nepal Rastra Bank as Assistant Research Officer in 2039 BS. He was promoted to the post of Executive Director of NRB in 2057 BS. He served as the Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank (Central Bank of Nepal) during 2010-2015. When he was the Governor of NRB, he had tightened the screw on real estate and share trading terming them as an unproductive sector.
He held twice the position of the Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission of Nepal during 2015-16 and 2009-2010.
He was the Finance Minister in the Oli-led cabinet. He also served as the Minister of Information and Communication Technology after the then Minister Gokul Baskota — accused of irregularities in the Security Printing case — resigned on moral grounds. He was given the responsibility of Government Spokesperson.
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