KATHMANDU: Chief Minister (CM) of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, expanded his cabinet today by appointing Phanindra Devkota and Deepak Manange as new ministers.
Both had earlier supported CM Pandey in securing his vote of confidence.
Devkota has been appointed as the Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Drinking Water, while Manange has been appointed as the Minister for Physical Infrastructure.
Following their appointments, both leaders took an oath of office and secrecy today.
Devkota, from the Nepal Samajbadi Party, was elected as a lawmaker of the province with the support of the CPN (Maoist Center).
He voted for CM Pandey, defying the whip issued by the Maoist Center.
The Maoist Center has announced plans to take action against Devkota, but he maintains that he does not need to follow the whip as he is a lawmaker from a different party.
Meanwhile, this marks the sixth time Manange has been appointed as a minister.
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