The three National Assembly members recommended by the KP Sharma Oli government and nominated by President Bidya Devi Bhandari have taken the oath of office and secrecy on Friday.

NA senior-most member Tara Devi Bhatta administered the oath to Yubaraj Khatiwada, Bimala Poudel Rai and Ram Narayan Bidari at the NA meeting hall at around 11 am this morning.

Despite being sworn in as the NA members, the three government-recommended NA members will not be able to take part in the upcoming presidential elections. Election Commission spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal informed that the 3 new NA members will not get an opportunity to vote in the president’s election as voters list has already been published last Tuesday.

However, EC spokesperson Dhakal said that there is still a chance for the trio to cast their votes if the office of the President’s Election Officer writes to the EC for their participation in the presidential election.

A division bench of Supreme Court Justices Kedar Prasad Chalise and Sarada Prasad Ghimire on Wednesday had ordered the government to allow the three members of the NA recommended by Oli-led government to take the oath of office and secrecy paving the way for the swearing-in of Khatiwada, Bidari and Poudel that was stalled on Sunday. 

Though the swearing-in was stalled, Khatiwada has been appointed as Finance Minister.

Earlier on February 25, the SC had issued an interim order directing the government not to administer the oath of office and secrecy to the three National Assembly members nominated by President on the recommendation of Oli-led government. The order was issued by Justice Prakashman Singh Raut.