Koshi Province Head Parshuram Khapung on Saturday appointed Nepali Congress lawmaker Kedar Karki as the new chief minister.

Karki was appointed as per Article 168(5) of the constitution after he laid claim to lead a new government producing the signatures of 47 lawmakers, which is a majority in the 93-member provincial assembly, before the province head.

Following the resignation of Hikmat Karki from the chief position, just ahead of the vote of confidence, Province Head Khapung had called on the assembly members to stake their claims on the position by 5pm on Friday.

Karki and Indra Bahadur Angbo of the CPN (Maoist Centre) had both laid their claims as the chief of the 93-strong assembly, asserting the support of 47 lawmakers each.

The province head needed to verify the claims as both Karki and Angbo claimed the support of all 29 assembly members of the Nepali Congress.

As per the decision, the verification of the signatures was conducted early on Saturday at the presence of the province head. However, Angbo failed to show up while Karki reached the province head’s office with the support of 47 lawmakers—eight Congress assembly members and 39 from the CPN-UML.

The CPN-UML, the largest party in the provincial assembly, backed the group of eight Congress members who revolted against their party’s official decision to field Maoist leader Angbo for the position.

Karki will take the oath of office and secrecy on Sunday.