CPN-UML Lumbini provincial assembly leader Leela Giri has been appointed as the chief minister of Lumbini Province.
Lumbini Province Chief Amik Sherchan on Wednesday appointed Giri to the post after he laid his claim for the chief ministership in the province with the backing of 58 lawmakers.
Giri, who is a politburo member of UML and co in-charge of Lumbini province, had earlier served as Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment.
Giri is supported by CPN (Maoist Center), Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janata Samajbadi Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party and three independent lawmakers.
Support from 44 provincial assembly members is required to form a government in the 87-member provincial assembly.
UML has 29 provincial assembly members, Nepali Congress 27, CPN (Maoist Center) 10, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Janata Samajbadi Party four each, Janamat Party and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party three each and CPN (Unified Socialist) and Rastriya Janamorcha have one each provincial assembly members.
As per the power-sharing deal reached in the ruling coalition, UML will lead the government in Lumbini Province for a full term.
