The newly appointed Lumbini Chief Minister Leela Giri, the provincial assembly leader of CPN-UML, took the oath of office and secrecy on Thursday.

Provincial head Amik Sherchan administered the oath to the new chief minister and two provincial ministers.

Along with Giri, Chet Narayan Acharya of UML and Krishna KC of the CPN (Maoist Centre) were also sworn-in as ministers without portfolios.

The new chief minister is yet to decide on cabinet expansion as he is planning to bring down the total number of ministries to 11 from the existing 13.

Giri was appointed as the chief minister on Wednesday after he laid a claim for the post 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. He is supported by CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janata Samajbadi Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party and three independent lawmakers.

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