KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Vice-Chairman Asta Laxmi Shakya has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bagmati Province.

She was appointed as the Chief Minister of Bagmati Province on Wednesday, becoming the first woman CM of Nepal.

Province Chief Bishnu Prasai appointed Shakya as the Chief Minister as per Article 168 (1) of the Constitution.

Chief Minister Shakya has also extended the provincial cabinet. Shakya appointed leader Keshav Raj Pandey as the Minister for Internal Affairs and Physical Infrastructure and Krishna Khanal as the Minister for Social Development.

Shakya was unanimously elected as the leader of the CPN-UML’s Bagmati Pradesh Parliamentary Party on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Dormani Poudel on Wednesday resigned as both the leader of the UML PP and the Chief Minister.

Shakya was unanimously elected leader of the PP on Poudel’s proposal.