Lumbini Chief Minister Acharya sworn in

LUMBINI: Chet Narayan Acharya of CPN-UML was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Lumbini Province on Wednesday.

Province Chief Amik Sherchan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Acharya amid a ceremony on Wednesday morning.

Sherchan appointed Acharya to the position on Monday as per Article 168 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015.

Acharya has appointed four ministers from his coalition partner Nepali Congress (NC) and four from his party UML. The two parties have agreed to take five ministries each. The have set aside two ministries for small parties who are expected to join the coalition government later

Province Chief Sherchan also administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers.

Bhumishwar Dhakal from Rupandehi, Dinesh Panthi from Gulmi, Khem Bahadur Saru Magar from Palpa, and Sita Sharma Chaudhary (proportional assembly member) have been appointed ministers from UML.

Likewise, Dhanendra Karki from Gulmi, Saroj Thapa aka Roj Rana from Pyuthan, Prachanda Bikram Neupane from Dang, and Badshah Kurmi from Banke have been appointed as ministers from Nepali Congress. NC had earlier decided to send Janmajaya Timilsina from Bardiya to the cabinet. But his name was removed from the list in the eleventh hour.

The new ministers, however, have not been allocated portfolios.