Dhangadi, February 21

Out of 18 females in the provincial assembly of Province 7, three have landed important berths. While Nirmala Badal Joshi from Darchula has secured the post of deputy-speaker, Maya Bhatta of Baitadi and Binita Chaudhary of Kailali have got ministerial portfolios as ministers for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, and Cooperatives respectively.

CPN-Maoist Centre ‘s Joshi and Chaudhary had secured their place in the Provincial Assembly under proportional representation electoral system. Bhatta too was a candidate elected under proportional representation system from CPN-UML.

CPN-MC’s Devaki Mall of Bajhang is the only woman to be elected under the first-past-the-post system in the province.

A total of 17 women, including eight from the UML, four each from CPN-MC and Nepali Congress, and one from Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal, had been elected under the PR system for the PA here.