Koshi Chief Minister Hikmat Karki took the oath of office and secrecy on Friday.

CPN-UML leader Karki, who was appointed to the post following Thursday’s Supreme Court order, was administered the oath along with four new ministers by Province Head Parshuram Khapung amid a ceremony at the Provincial Assembly Office in Biratnagar.

The top court had issued the mandamus order to appoint Karki as chief minister within 48 hours as per Article 168(3) that paves the way for forming a government led by the leader of the largest party in the assembly. With 40 seats in the 93-member assembly, the UML is the largest party in the province.

Til Kumar Menyangbo, Ekraj Karki and Panch Karna Rai of the UML have been appointed ministers.

Former deputy Speaker Sirjana Danuwar of the same party has also been appointed as the State Minister for Social Development.

As Karki formed only a five-member Cabinet in the first phase, he has kept various ministerial portfolios to himself for now.

Hearing on a petition filed by Karki, a full bench of the apex court comprising Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla, Kumar Chudal and Nahakul Subedi, on Thursday, issued a mandamus order to appoint Karki as the chief minister within 48 hours as per Article 168(3) of the constitution.

The CPN-UML leader, in his petition, had demanded that an order be issued to quash the incumbent ‘unconstitutional government’ formed under Article 168 (2) of the constitution and issue an order paving the way for the formation of a new government in accordance with Article 168 (3).

The court on Thursday termed the Uddhav Thapa-led government unconstitutional, saying that participation of the lawmaker chairing the House meeting in the voting process was against the constitutional provision.

After the November 20 elections last year, Karki assumed office as the province chief on January 8 but lost the position after failing the floor test on June 30.