Newly-appointed Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Khagaraj Adhikari took the oath of office and secrecy on Monday.

Province head Prithviman Gurung administered the oath of office and secrecy to Chief Minister Adhikari.

Adhikari along with three other ministers took the oath at the residence of provincial head Gurung. They took oath as ministers without portfolios.

CPN-UML’s Sita Sundas, CPN (Maoist Center)’s Hari Bahadur Chuman and Rastriya Prajatantra Party's Pancharam Gurung took the oath of office and secrecy along with the chief minister.

Earlier today, Adhikari had staked claim to the post of chief minister with the support of 33 members of the 60-member provincial assembly.

Adhikari has the support of 33 members including UML’s 22 members, the Maoist Centre’s eight members, two of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and one member of CPN (Unified Socialist).

Adhikari, who is also the party’s Standing Committee member, has become the third chief minister of the province since the formation of the provincial governments in 2017.