KATHMANDU: A meeting of the Council of Ministers has decided to endorse names for the three vacant seats at the National Assembly.

The meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar at 8:30 am today made a decision to this effect, according to PM's press coordinator Chetan Adhikari.

Yubaraj Khatiwada, Ram Narayan Bidari and Bimala Poudel Rai have been endorsed for the National Assembly and their names will be forwarded to the President for consideration.

Former Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank and Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC) Khatiwada and former NPC member Poudel have been recommended in UML quota while Bidari comes from CPN Maoist Centre.

Only yesterday, the two ruling coalition partners had signed a seven point agreement on the unification modality.

Prior to this, the KP Sharma Oli-led government had withdrawn names of nominees — Gopal Basnet, Krishna Paudel and Chandani Joshi — for the NA, endorsed by the erstwhile Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government for the remaining three seats in the National Assembly.

The names were under consideration at the President's Office when the government decided to withdraw the same.

Upon the Office of President’s approval of these names, the National Assembly will be full shaped.