Chief Ministers of Province 1, 2 and 5 took oath of office and secrecy amid separate functions held in the provincial capitals on Thursday. In Biratnagar, Governor Govinda Bahadur Tumbahang administered the oath to CPN-UML Parliamentary Party (PP) leader Sherdhan Rai as the CM. After his swearing-in, CM Rai expanded the provincial cabinet by appointing four ministers. "

UML leaders Hikmat Karki, Jagadish Kusiyay and Jivan Ghimire have been appointed as Minister for Internal Affairs and Law; Minister for Industry, Tourism and Minister for Environment and Social Development respectively. 

Similarly, CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Indra Bahadur Angbo has been appointed as Minister for Financial Affairs and Planning. The appointed ministers were also sworn in from the provincial chief in presence of CM Rai. 

In Janakpur, CM Mohammad Lalbabu Raut, the PP leader of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal (SSF-N), took oath of office and secrecy from Province Governor Ratneshwor Lal Kayastha amid a function. Raut also expanded his cabinet appointing SSF-N leader Bijaya Kumar Yadav and Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal PP leader Jitendra Sonal as ministers. A source said that Raut expanded a small-sized cabinet as the central leadership of both Madhesi parties are yet to finalise the ministerial candidates. 

Similarly in Butwal, Governor of Province 5 Umakanta Jha administered the oath to CM Shankar Pokharel. Immediately after his swearing-in, CM Pokharel appointed Maoist Centre leader Kul Prasad KC as Internal Affairs Minister and UML leader Baijanath Chaudhary as Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development.  

Adhikari picked as Province 4 speaker

POKHARA: CPN (Maoist Centre) candidate Netra Nath Adhikari has been elected speaker of Province 4. The provincial assembly meeting held on Thursday officially declared Adhikari the speaker. He was the only candidate to file nomination for the post on Wednesday. Speaker Adhikari and Chief Minister-elect Prithvi Subba Gurung are scheduled to take oath on Friday. Similarly, Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum-Nepal candidate Upama Kumari Deve was on Thursday elected deputy speaker of Province 2 unopposed. (PR)