Kathmandu : Nepal faces escalating turmoil as Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday, bowing to mounting pressure from nationwide Gen-Z protests that killed 19 people. Oli submitted his resignation to President Ram Chandra Poudel, citing the “abnormal situation” as demonstrations intensified against his government.
In his resignation letter, Oli invoked Article 77(1) of the constitution to pave the way for a constitutional resolution. He had been elected Prime Minister on July 14, 2024, under a consensus with the Nepali Congress, the largest parliamentary party. Reports indicate that Mayor Balen Shah could take over as interim Prime Minister.
The unrest escalated after Monday’s protests, which turned violent following the deaths of demonstrators demanding accountability for corruption and the social media ban. Ministers, particularly from Nepali Congress, resigned, further pressuring the coalition. Ruling party leaders Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma stated that the seven-point agreement forming the government had lost relevance.
Protesters attacked government institutions and leaders’ residences across the country. They stormed the parliament building in Baneshwor, set it ablaze, and attempted to breach Singh Durbar, Nepal’s main administrative centre. Demonstrators pelted stones at homes of former Prime Ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, and other top officials. They also torched Prime Minister Oli’s residence in Balakot, Bhaktapur, and videos of the incident spread widely on social media.
Authorities confirmed that despite curfews in Kathmandu Valley, tensions remained high. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Agriculture Minister Ram Nath Adhikari, along with Health Minister Pradip Poudel and Youth Minister Teju Lal Chaudhary, resigned, citing regret over the state’s handling of protests.
District officials in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur reported that protesters continued to clash with authorities, while security forces exercised restraint. Local media highlighted widespread damage, including vandalism at government offices and party headquarters.
The resignation of PM Oli marks a pivotal moment in Nepal’s political landscape, as the nation confronts civil unrest and growing demands from politically active youth for accountability and reform.
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