A meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party’s central secretariat today decided to endorse its vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam as a member of the National Assembly (NA).

President Bidya Devi Bhandari will soon appoint Gautam as the NA member upon the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.

Once appointed, Gautam will be replacing the current Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada whose two year tenure expires on March 3.

Meanwhile, the meeting also decided to dissolve an intra-party task force formed in a bid to amend the constitution to empower an upper house member to lead the government in capacity of the prime minister.

On February 23, the NCP had decided to set up the panel and do its homework to amend the constitution.

The party had planned to elect its vice-chairman Gautam to the upper house and clear the way for him to become prime minister.

According to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s Press Advisor Surya Thapa, Gautam’s name was decided after considering his expertise and experience as a politician.