Hikmat Kumar Karki sworn in as CM of Koshi Province

KATHMANDU: Hikmat Kumar Karki has been appointed as the Chief Minister of Koshi Province.

Province Chief Parshuram Khapung appointed Karki to the top post in the province in accordance with Article 168 (3) of the Constitution of Nepal. Khapung also administered the oath of office and secrecy to Karki.

This is Karki’s second stint as the Chief Minister of Koshi Province. He was appointed as the Chief Minister earlier on January 8 from the UML-Maoist coalition government. However, he was automatically relieved from the post on June 30 after he failed the floor test.

Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court unseated Uddhab Thapa as the Chief Minister of Koshi Province after invalidating the vote of confidence received by him on August 21 and ordered the Province Chief to form a new government under the leadership of the largest party in the province assembly as per Article 168 (3) of the Constitution of Nepal.

Karki has appointed three ministers and one minister of state in his cabinet. He has appointed Til Kumar Meyangbo as Minister for Energy, Panchkarna rai as Minister for Foreign and Environment, and Ek Raj Kaki as the Minister for Physical Infrastructure. Likewise, Srijana Rai has been appointed as the Minister of State for Social Development.

Karki will now need to secure a vote of confidence in the province assembly within 30 days.