Gandaki CM Adhikari takes oath of office and secrecy, Chuman and Manange appointed as ministers

Newly appointed Gandaki Province Chief Minister Khagraj Adhikari took the oath of office and secrecy on Sunday.

Province Chief Dilliraj Bhatta administered the oath of office and secrecy to Adhikari this afternoon.

After Adhikari was sworn in as the chief minister, Deepak Manange of CPN (Unified Socialist) and Hari Bahadur Chuman of CPN (Maoist Center) were also administered the oath of office and secrecy as ministers without portfolio.

Province Chief Bhatta appointed Adhikari as the chief minister with the support of two or more than two parties as per Article 168 (2) of the Constitution.

Adhikari staked a claim for the chief ministerial position with the support of UML, Maoist Center and CPN (US).

Nepali Congress has 27 lawmakers, UML 22, Maoist Center eight (including Speaker), Rastriya Prajatantra Party two and CPN (US) one lawmaker in Gandaki.

After the Maoist withdrew its support to the Surendra Raj Pandey government, the chief minister had to take a vote of confidence within 30 days.

Pandey resigned from the post of chief minister after he did not see any situation to win the vote of confidence.