CPN-UML’s Lumbini provincial assembly leader Leela Giri has been appointed Lumbini Province chief minister.

Lumbini Province Chief Amik Sherchan on Wednesday appointed Giri to the post after he laid his claim for the chief ministership in the province with the support of 58 lawmakers

Giri, who is a politburo member of UML and co in-charge of Lumbini province, had earlier served as Minister for Industry and Tourism and Forest and Environment.

Giri is supported by CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janata Samajbadi Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party and three independent lawmakers.

Support from 44 provincial assembly members is required to form a government in the 87-member provincial assembly.

UML has 29 provincial assembly members, Nepali Congress 27, CPN (Maoist Centre) 10, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Janata Samajbadi Party four each, Janamat Party and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party three each and CPN (Unified Socialist) and Rastriya Janamorcha have one each provincial assembly member.

As per the power-sharing deal in the ruling coalition, UML will lead the government in Lumbini Province for a full term.

The story has been updated.