Koshi Chief Minister Uddhav Thapa took the oath of office and secrecy on Wednesday.

Thapa, who was appointed to the position on Tuesday, was administered the oath along with three new ministers by province head Parshuram Khapung amid a ceremony at the Provincial Assembly Office in Biratnagar.

Former province assembly Speaker Baburam Gautam took an oath as the Minister for Economic Affairs.

Likewise, Pradeep Kumar Sunuwar of Nepal Congress has been handed the portfolio of the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, while CPN (Unified Socialist)’s Kamal Prasad Jabegu has taken office as the Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister.

The oath-taking ceremony, which was scheduled for 10am on Wednesday, was delayed until 5pm after Jeevan Acharya of the CPN (Maoist Centre) staked his claim on the ministerial position, causing arguments within the party.

Meanwhile, the Janata Samajbadi Party, who voted in favour of Thapa’s appointment, have decided to not join the government until their demand for renaming the province is addressed.