Nepal Dissolves Parliament as Sushila Karki Becomes Interim Prime Minister

Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel has dissolved parliament and announced fresh elections for March 5, 2026, following a week of unrest that left 51 people dead and over 1,300 injured. The decision came only hours after Paudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim Prime Minister, making her the first woman to lead the country.

The move followed the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who stepped down after fierce anti-corruption demonstrations led largely by Generation Z. The protests, triggered by a temporary social media ban, were the most violent the country has faced in years.

Appointment After Negotiations

Karki’s appointment was the outcome of two days of negotiations between President Paudel, army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel and protest leaders. Her interim government is expected to guide Nepal towards stability ahead of elections.

India, Nepal’s close neighbour, welcomed the appointment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted his congratulations on X, saying India remained committed to Nepal’s peace and prosperity.

The protests subsided after Oli’s resignation on Tuesday. By Friday, daily life in Nepal’s cities began to recover, with shops reopening and traffic returning. Police, who earlier carried rifles, resumed patrols with batons.

Nepal, home to 30 mln people, has faced political turbulence and economic challenges since the monarchy was abolished in 2008. A lack of jobs continues to drive millions abroad in search of work, particularly in the Middle East, South Korea and Malaysia.