Surkhet, February 16

A day after his appointment, Province 6 Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi was sworn in today. Provincial Governor Durga Keshar Khanal administered the oath of office to Shahi at his office in Birendranagar.

Speaking after assuming office at the Birendranagar-based office of chief minister today, Shahi stressed on long-term master plan for the development of the province. “We have a huge challenge facing us to make this youngest province able to sustain on its own for which  planning is a must,” he said, adding policy-related decisions will be taken after the cabinet is formed.

Meanwhile, formation of the cabinet is likely to be delayed for a few days given a host of lawmakers from the left alliance eyeing ministerial portfolios. “As we need more homework to select ministers from our party, it might take two to three days before the cabinet is formed,” said CPN-UML lawmaker Yamlal Kandel, adding talks with the CPN-MC about sharing of ministerial portfolios is on.

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