Sushila Karki sworn in as Nepal’s first woman interim Prime Minister, elections set for March 2026
PTC Web Desk: Nepal has appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as its interim Prime Minister, making her the country’s first woman to hold the post. The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, marking the end of days of political uncertainty and intense negotiations. Soon after the swearing-in, it was announced that general elections will be conducted on March 5, 2026.
The ceremony was attended by President Ramchandra Paudel, Vice President Ram Sahay Yadav, and Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Rawat. India’s Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, also congratulated Karki in person.
In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said, “We welcome the formation of the new Interim Government in Nepal, led by Right Honourable Mrs Sushila Karki. We are hopeful that this step will foster peace and stability. As a close neighbour, a fellow democracy, and a long-term development partner, India will continue to work closely with Nepal for the well-being and prosperity of our two peoples and countries.”
The announcement of Sushila Karki’s appointment came after a consensus between President Paudel, Nepal Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel, and leaders of the Generation Z protest movement. The movement had intensified nationwide demonstrations against corruption and unemployment, which ultimately forced the resignation of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli earlier this week.
The protests, which turned violent and triggered a harsh police crackdown, left at least 51 persons dead. Amid the turmoil, multiple names surfaced as possible interim leaders. Among them were Kulman Ghising, the engineer credited with ending Nepal’s electricity crisis, and Balendra Shah (Balen), the popular Kathmandu mayor and rapper who commands significant youth support.
Karki, however, emerged as the consensus candidate. Known for her uncompromising stance against corruption, she served as Nepal’s first female chief justice from 2016 to 2017. Her tenure was marked by a controversial impeachment attempt seen as politically motivated, which collapsed following strong public backlash. The episode, however, contributed to her early departure from the judiciary.
- With inputs from agencies
