JANAKPUR: The Chief Minister of Madhes Province, Krishna Prasad Yadav, has expanded his council of ministers, with five members of the Provincial Assembly taking their oaths of office and secrecy on Tuesday evening.

Among the newly appointed ministers, Yubaraj Bhattarai took the oath as the Minister for Finance, Lakhan Das Tatma as the Minister for Sports and Social Welfare, Sharada Devi Thapa as the Minister for Labour and Transport, Manoj Kumar Singh as the Minister for Education and Culture, and Nagendra Sah as the Minister for Health and Population.

The Province Chief, Surendra Labh Karna, administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new cabinet members.

Although preparations for the cabinet expansion had been underway for the past two days, the process had been delayed because the three ruling parties could not initially agree on how to divide the ministries.

The expansion was finally made possible on Tuesday after a 15-point agreement was reached between the CPN (UML), Nepali Congress, and the Communist Party of Nepal.