KATHMANDU: Daman Bahadur Bhandari, the recently elected member of the Sudurpaschim Province from Bajhang-1, took the oath of office and secrecy on Thursday.

Speaker Bhim Bhandari administered the oath to Bhandari, who won the by-election held in Bajhang-1 following the passing of Nepali Congress lawmaker Prithvi Bahadur Singh on Ashar 5, 2080 BS.

Representing the CPN-UML, Bhandari secured victory in the by-election with 11,612 votes, defeating Abhishek Singh, the son of the late lawmaker Prithvi Bahadur Singh.

With Bhandari assuming his role, the CPN-UML now holds 11 seats in the Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly.