Yubaraj Khatiwada resigned as minister for finance and minister for communication and information technology on Friday, a day after the ruling Nepal Communist Party decided not to appoint him to the National Assembly.

His appointment to the National Assembly was crucial for him to continue as the minister. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had reappointed Khatiwada as the finance minister on March 4 after he completed his tw0-year tenure as the National Assembly member on March 3. As per constitutional provisions, if a non-elected person is appointed a minister, he or she needs to take the oath as a member either of the House of Representatives or the National Assembly within six months of the appointment.

There is only one seat vacant in the National Assembly and the ruling party on Thursday decided to nominate party vice-chair Bamdev Gautam.

"Khatiwada submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Oli today," said Surya Thapa, Oli’s press advisor.

As a minister for communication and information technology, Khatiwada was also the government's spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Oli has himself taken the responsibilities of both ministries.

“President Bidya Devi Bhandari has endorsed the recommendation of the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to take the responsibilities of both finance and communication and information technology ministries after the resignation of Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada,” reads a statement released by the president’s office.

The story has been updated to add the last two paragraphs.