BIRATNAGAR: Chief Minister of Province 1, Hikmat Kumar Karki, is taking the oath of office and secrecy Monday afternoon.

Chief Minister Karki will form a small cabinet today by appointing one minister each from the CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), and Maoist Center.

Karki was appointed Chief Minister on Sunday by the Province Chief Parshuram Khapung.

In the 93-member provincial assembly, 47 MPs are required for a majority.

CM Karki has the support of 40 MPs from CPN-UML, 13 from the Maoist Center, 6 from RPP, and one MP from Janata Samajwadi Party.