Dhangadi, February 15

Trilochan Bhatta, Provincial Assembly member from the CPN-Maoist Centre, was appointed the chief minister of Province 7 today.

Governor Mohan Raj Malla appointed Bhatta as chief minister in accordance with sub-article 2 of Article 168 of the constitution at 12:30pm today.

Bhatta had been elected parliamentary party leader from the CPN-MC a few days ago. He was elected from Constituency 1-B of Doti in the provincial election.

He claimed the post of chief minister after collecting signatures of 37 PA members.

The left alliance enjoys two-third majority in the Provincial Assembly with 25 PA members from the CPN-UML and 14 from the CPN-MC. Bhatta is expected to form a small Cabinet.

Bhatta said that his first priority would be to minimise corruption in the course of developing the province. He added that he would bring a reform programme in the education sector for those who had quit studies due to poverty. “Utilisation of natural resources, tourism development, modernisation of agriculture, scientific education policy and other programmes will be brought,” he assured.