KATHMANDU: The newly appointed Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Khagaraj Adhikari, took the oath of office and secrecy on Sunday.

Chief Minister Adhikari was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Gandaki Province Chief Dilliraj Bhatta in a ceremony held in Pokhara today.

Adhikari, who garnered support from 22 lawmakers from the CPN-UML, eight from the CPN-Maoist Center including the Speaker, and independent lawmaker Rajiv Gurung alias Deepak Manange, assumed office as Chief Minister on Sunday.

Immediately after his swearing-in, Chief Minister Adhikari appointed Maoist Center parliamentary party leader Haribahadur Chuman and independent lawmaker Manange as ministers without portfolio, administering the oath of office to them.