Biratnagar : The newly appointed Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Kumar Karki, has taken the oath of office and secrecy.

Province Chief Parshuram Khapung administered the oath to Karki amidst a ceremony held at the Office of the Province Chief on Thursday evening.

This is the third time Karki has become the Chief Minister of Koshi Province.

Karki was appointed as the Chief Minister in accordance with Article 168 (5) of the Constitution of Nepal by Province Chief Parshuram Khapung on Thursday.

Along with Karki, two ministers have also taken oath. Ram Rana from CPN (UML) and Ganesh Upreti from CPN (Maoist Center) have become ministers. They have been appointed ministers without portfolios.

Earlier in the day today, UML Koshi Province Parliamentary Party leader Karki staked a claim for the post of Chief Minister with the backing of 52 lawmakers including 39 members of parliament (MPs) from UML and 13 from Maoist Center.

Province Chief Khapung on Wednesday evening called on the political parties to stake a claim for the formation of a new government in accordance with Article 168 (5) of the Constitution of Nepal.

In the 93-member Koshi Province Assembly, there are 40 lawmakers from UML and 13 from Maoist Center, 29 from Nepali Congress, four from CPN (Unified Socialist), six from Rastriya Prajatantra Party and one from Janata Samajbadi Party.