The CPN-UML on Saturday joined the Bagmati provincial government led by Shalikram Jammakattel of CPN (Maoist Centre).

Chief Minister Jammakattel inducted UML’s Jagannath Thapaliya into his Cabinet as the Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning of the province.

Province Head Yadav Sharma administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed minister on Saturday.

This is Thapaliya’s second term as the economic affairs minister in the province. He was previously appointed to the post on January 10, 2023.

The UML lawmaker is the second minister to be inducted into the Bagmati government this week. Chief Minister Jammakattel of CPN (Maoist Centre) on Friday had appointed Shailendraman Bajracharya, a member of the Hamro Nepali Party, as the provincial minister for culture, tourism and co-operatives.

After the changes in the ruling coalition at the centre in the first week of this month, the Nepali Congress recalled its ministers and withdrew support to the Bagmati government.

On Tuesday, the Hamro Nepali Party with two members in the provincial assembly, had also withdrawn its support, pushing the Jammakattel-led government into a minority.

Then, Jammakattel, in a bid to regain majority in the assembly, appointed Bajracharya to the post on Thursday.