Surkhet : Newly elected Chief Minister of Karnali Province, Yamlal Kandel, has taken the oath of office and secrecy.

Province Chief Tilak Pariyar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Kandel amidst a ceremony in Surkhet today.

Former Chief Minister Raj Kumar Sharma resigned from the post after Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali went into the fold of UML following the power-sharing deal sealed among the ruling coalition parties on March 4.

Province Chief Pariyar had issued a seven-day deadline for the parties to stake a claim for the post of Chief Minister with the support of two or more than two parties.

Kandel became the Chief Minister with the support of 24 lawmakers including 10 from UML, 13 from Maoist Center, and one from Unified Socialist.