POKHARA: Independent candidate of the Gandaki Provincial Assembly, Rajiv Gurung -- popularly known as Deepak Manange -- is all set to join the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

Gurung, an independent candidate supported by the erstwhile CPN-UML, had won the provincial assembly elections from Manang (B) in Gandaki Province.

According to party's central member Bhim Karki, Gurung will officially join the party on Thursday. Chief Minister and NCP( NCP) province incharge for Gandaki Province, Prithvi Subba Gurung will formally welcome Gurung into the party.

Meanwhile, Gurung has stated that he is entering NCP (NCP) because being a party member would be easier than remaining independent.

Gurung had taken the oath as a member of Gandaki provincial assembly on January 28, 2019, sixteen months after being elected. Gandaki Province Speaker Netra Adhikari had administered him the oath of office in the presence of a few provincial ministers, provincial assembly members and journalists.

Right after the elections, Gurung had been charged for criminal offence and had remained out of contact before being taken into the police custody. Though Gurung was serving a sentence for attempted murder, he was released on December 21, 2018, as per the provision in the new penal code that allows defendants deserving less than a 10-year sentence to fight their case from outside the prison.

With his entry into the ruling party, the total number of lawmakers in Gandaki provincial assembly belonging to NCP (NCP) will reach 38.