KATHMANDU: Defense Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr. Minendra Rijal has resigned from his post.

“Considering the preliminary result of the votes that I received as the candidate for the post of NC General Secretary, I have decided to step down on the moral ground,” he has said on his Facebook page.

Dr Rijal submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the Prime Minister’s Officem Singha Durbar Thursday afternoon.

He has got comparatively less votes than other contestants to the post of party General Secretary, including Gagan Thapa, Pradeep Poudel, and Biswa Prakash Sharma.

Meanwhile, speaking to the press after resigning, Dr Rijal said that since the outcome of the voting has given a clear message to me, “I thought I should not continue as the minister.”

Stating that he is still a lawmaker, and will remain active, he said, “There are opportunities amid numerous challenges ahead in the country. I am sure Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister would utilize his time and position to transform those challenges into opportunities for a prosperous Nepal.”