After days of violent unrest and over 50 deaths, Nepal enters a new chapter under interim PM Sushila Karki, with elections scheduled for March 2026
Kathmandu [Nepal], September 13:
Nepal witnessed a historic and emotional moment on Friday night as former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as the country’s first-ever woman Prime Minister. Her appointment follows weeks of turmoil that left 51 people dead and over a thousand injured during youth-led anti-corruption protests that shook the very foundations of the nation’s political order.
For many in Kathmandu and beyond, the swearing-in of Karki represents a ray of hope in dark times. After nearly three days of curfews, violence, and uncertainty, the streets have quieted, and the people are looking to her leadership to pave the way toward a transparent, accountable, and corruption-free governance.
“I expect her to start the dawn of a new era in Nepal. The country needs both preservation and development under her leadership,” said Suman Siwakoti, a resident of Kathmandu.
Another local, Ram Kumar Simkhada, echoed the sentiment, stressing that the interim government must prioritize good governance above all.
“The new government should erase these wrongdoings, make the nation corruption-free, and bring in experts—lawyers, teachers, doctors, judges—into the cabinet. We need zero corruption, and all work should focus on governance that people can trust.”
For others, constitutional reform remains central. Lila Luitel, another Kathmandu resident, called on Karki to amend the system to eradicate corruption.
“The main expectation we have is an amendment to make the head of state the true executive. Anyone found guilty of corruption, whether leaders or cadres, must be penalized.”
Dissolution of Parliament & Road to Elections
Earlier in the evening, Nepal’s Parliament was formally dissolved, and fresh elections were announced for March 5, 2026. The decision came within hours of Karki taking her oath at Sheetal Niwas, the presidential residence in Kathmandu. Her very first cabinet meeting approved the dissolution, setting in motion a six-month transitional government tasked with restoring stability and preparing for elections.
Karki’s rise to the post comes after KP Sharma Oli’s resignation, following the unprecedented youth-led Gen Z movement that took to the streets demanding accountability, transparency, and an end to decades of entrenched corruption.
India Welcomes the Move
Soon after her appointment, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed the formation of the interim government. In a statement, New Delhi expressed hope that this new phase “will help foster peace and stability in Nepal” and reaffirmed that India will “continue to work closely with Nepal for the well-being and prosperity of our two peoples and countries.”
Chosen by the People, Backed by Youth
What makes Karki’s selection remarkable is the way she was chosen—through a public vote held by Gen Z leaders on Discord, a platform that has become the nerve center of Nepal’s youth uprising. Her reputation as a fearless and incorruptible former Chief Justice made her the consensus choice, not only for the youth movement but also for political factions desperate for stability.
Her appointment marks a turning point in Nepal’s history, not just for being the first woman Prime Minister, but for embodying the people’s demand for integrity in governance.
As calm slowly returns to the streets of Kathmandu, many Nepalese believe this moment could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the nation’s democratic journey.