KATHMANDU: The swearing-in ceremony of three newly appointed ministers in Bagmati Province—Govinda Lamsal, Geeta Gurung, and Maya Shrestha—has been postponed indefinitely amid growing political tensions.

Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama had announced their appointments on Wednesday to fill vacant portfolios, but the ceremony scheduled for Thursday was halted following objections from the CPN-UML and an abrupt health issue faced by Provincial Chief Deepak Prasad Devkota, who left for Kathmandu for treatment.

The Office of the Provincial Chief cited medical reasons for the postponement, while sources confirm the UML exerted pressure to block the oath, challenging Lama’s leadership.

The delay adds to mounting instability in the province, where CM Lama is under internal and external pressure, having recently taken on five ministries amid factional rifts and calls for his resignation.