Bagmati Province Chief Minister Kiran Thapa Magar took office on Thursday, forming a seven-member Cabinet after a prolonged political tussle over the province’s leadership.

Thapa Magar was sworn in by Provincial Head Dipak Prasad Devkota at a ceremony in Hetauda. He was appointed chief minister earlier in the day with the backing of lawmakers from his own CPN-UML, the Nepali Communist Party and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.

The new chief minister appointed five ministers, assigning them portfolios and one minister without portfolio.

Saral Sahayatri Paudel was named minister for economic affairs and planning; Bharat KC was given the physical infrastructure portfolio; Raju Bista was appointed minister for water supply, energy and irrigation; Rajendra Prajapati will oversee industry, tourism, labour and employment; and Gir Bahadur Tamang was named minister for health and social development.

Gyan Bahadur Tamang was appointed minister without portfolio.

All six ministers took their oaths of office and secrecy.