Kathmandu, October 10
Gajendra Hamal has announced he would resign as the minister for industry, commerce and supplies, just two days after his appointment.
Hamal decided to call it quits as his appointment was drawn into controversy. He has been reported to be a choice of Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana for the Deuba cabinet as reports say Rana wanted his “representation” in the cabinet in exchange for his July verdict that paved way for Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government.
Rana and Hamal are brothers-in-law.
Whereas Prime Minister Deuba and other leaders of the ruling coalition had defended Hamal’s appointment as he was also a veteran Nepali Congress leader in Banke, others had questioned Deuba’s commitment to democracy as he clearly allowed the judiciary to claim a share in the cabinet, thereby jeopardising the constitutional checks and balances.
But, two days after that, Hamal says he decided to quit to avoid any further controversy.