Kathmandu, November 2
Jigyan Kumar Thapa, who was nominated as Nepal’s ambassador to Japan, has formally withdrawn his nomination by writing to the Parliamentary Hearing Committee.
In his letter, Thapa said that holding public office was not the only way to serve the country and its people.
“Public office is not the only means of serving the country and its people. I remain committed to faithfully undertaking any responsibility entrusted to me by the Government of Nepal in the days ahead, in the interest of national welfare, development and prosperity,” he wrote.
Thapa was among 13 ambassadorial nominees who appeared before the Parliamentary Hearing Committee on October 14, 2026. The committee approved 10 of the nominations that day.
The nominations of Giribahadur Sunar, proposed as ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Chudamani Kharel, proposed as ambassador to Malaysia, were rejected.
The hearing on Thapa’s nomination was postponed after lawmakers raised questions about his permanent residency status in Japan, saying further study was needed.
During the hearing, Thapa had clarified that he had already renounced his Japanese permanent residency. However, lawmakers questioned whether he met the requirements under Article 291 of the Constitution and how long before his nomination he had given up the status.
