KATHMANDU: Chairperson of the House of Representatives’ State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, Ramhari Khatiwada, has said he is ready to resign from his post if instructed by the Nepali Congress party.

Speaking during Friday’s ongoing meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee, Khatiwada expressed willingness to step down from the parliamentary committee chairmanship if the party so decides.

“In my case, if the party asks me to step aside right now, I’m ready,” Khatiwada said during the meeting.

Khatiwada, also a central committee member of the Nepali Congress, has come under fire over alleged tampering in the unanimously passed provision related to the “cooling-off period” in the State Affairs Committee.

From ruling coalition partner CPN-UML to opposition parties, multiple voices have called on Khatiwada to uphold moral accountability and resign from his position.

Defending himself in the meeting, Khatiwada said the party belongs to everyone and warned against internal mudslinging, stating that such behavior will not benefit the organization.

“The party belongs to everyone. If one targets the committee chairperson, another targets the vice president, another the general secretary, and someone else targets central committee members—where will the party go?” he asked, urging members to act consciously and focus on refining the party’s direction.