Kathmandu : Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gajendra Hamal is preparing to resign after he was criticized for becoming a minister from the quota of Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana.

Sources close to Baluwatar said that he had sought time with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to resign.

A source close to Hamal said that he had decided to resign saying that he had dragged the Chief Justice into the controversy over his appointment.

He said that despite many requests not to resign, he had decided to resign at his own discretion.

Hamal was sworn in as a minister only on Friday. He is preparing to resign from the ministry post less than 72 hours after taking oath.