Appointment as NA member has nothing to do with my position or prestige: NCP Vice Chair Gautam

KATHMANDU: Vice Chairman of ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Bamdev Gautam today said his appointment to the National Assembly had nothing to do with the position or prestige.

Gautam made the remarks after a Supreme Court ruling in his favor on Wednesday.

The SC on Wednesday refused to issue an interim order in the case against Gautam’s appointment as National Assembly member.

“This is not an issue of prestige or position. It simply came to my notice that while we were working to establish discipline in the party, some people tried to play foul by linking my issue with position and personal prestige, ”he said.

The SC decision has paved the way for Gautam to perform his role as a lawmaker and to become a minister.

A constitutional bench including Chief Justice Cholendra Shumaher Rana, and Justices Hari Krishna Karki, Dipak Kumar Karki, Bishwambhar Shrestha and Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada were hearing the case filed by senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi.

The SC refused to issue an interim order, Devendra Dhakal, Assistant Spokesperson with the SC said.

The constitutional bench was hearing the case against Gautam since September 30.

A bench of Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai had on September 23 sent the petition filed by Tripathi to the constitutional bench while issuing an interim order to stop implementing the decision to make Gautam a NA member.