Makawanpur, July 26 -- UML has secured the leadership of the Bagmati provincial government under a power-sharing agreement reached between the UML and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP). Two UML leaders have emerged as contenders for the chief minister's post, stepping up their internal lobbying after the party was chosen to lead the next provincial government.

A written agreement reached on Saturday between UML chair KP Sharma Oli and NCP coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal states that the UML will lead the provincial governments in Koshi, Bagmati and Lumbini, while the NCP will head governments in Karnali and Sudurpaschim.

Following the central-level agreement, UML and NCP leaders in Bagmati have begun preparations for forming a new provinci...