SURKHET, Aug 4: The Nepali Congress (NC) has officially joined the Karnali provincial government. Four ministers from the NC took the oath of office and secrecy on Sunday, marking their participation in the UML-led government.

The newly appointed NC ministers are Rajeev Bikram Shah as the Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, Ghanshyam Bhandari as the Minister for Social Development, Suresh Adhikari as the Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest, and Environment, and Bijaya Lama as the Minister for Energy and Water Resources.

Province Chief Yagyaraj Joshi administered the oath on Sunday afternoon. The NC had submitted the list of its ministerial nominees to Chief Minister Yam Lal Kandel last Friday. However, delays occurred because Chief Minister Kandel aimed to retain the Ministry of Finance, preventing the appointment and swearing-in from taking place immediately.

In the 8-member Council of Ministers, the UML holds three ministries, including the chief minister's position, while the NC has been allocated four ministries. Chief Minister Kandel is expected to seek a vote of confidence in the provincial assembly on Monday following the NC’s inclusion in the government.

The CPN (Maoist Center) withdrew its support and exited the government on July 22.