Newly appointed Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey took oath of office and secrecy on Friday. Province Chief Prithvi Man Gurung appointed him as the chief minister on Thursday. Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Pandey had laid a claim for the post of chief minister with the support of CPN (Maoist Center) and an independent lawmaker.

Province Chief Gurung administered the oath of office and secrecy to Pandey at his residence this afternoon.

After being sworn in as the chief minister, Pandey expanded the Cabinet by inducting two ministers. Sushila Simkhada of the CPN (Maoist Center) and Saraswati Aryal of the Nepali Congress were appointed as the ministers. They also took the oath of office and secrecy today.