Key points
- Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki is set to be sworn in as Nepal’s interim Prime Minister tonight, with the oath reported for 8:45–9:15 pm local time at Sheetal Niwas, the President’s residence.
- She would be Nepal’s first-ever woman PM, a historic first following the Gen Z–led protests and KP Sharma Oli’s resignation earlier this week.
- A deal “in principle” includes dissolution of Parliament “shortly,” with reports that the President has accepted this demand; a formal notification is expected around the swearing-in.
- A small interim cabinet is expected soon after the oath; names doing the rounds include engineer Kulman Ghising, rights lawyer Om Prakash Aryal, and retired Lt Gen Balananda Sharma.
- Karki, a BHU alumna, was Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice; she survived a 2017 impeachment attempt that the Supreme Court stayed, reinstating her to office.
- The Gen Z uprising followed curbs on social media and anti-graft anger; at least 51 people have died amid the unrest, according to updated tallies.
Kathmandu: Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki is slated to become Nepal’s interim PM tonight, with multiple outlets reporting an oath time between 8:45 pm and 9:15 pm local time at the President’s residence, Sheetal Niwas. The arrangement follows intense negotiations between Gen Z protest leaders, President Ram Chandra Paudel, and the Army leadership after KP Sharma Oli quit amid nationwide unrest.
Local and Indian media say the President has accepted, in principle, Gen Z demands to dissolve the House, with a formal dissolution expected “shortly,” potentially aligned with the swearing-in sequence. After the oath, a compact interim cabinet is anticipated quickly, with the first meeting likely to prioritize emergency measures and stabilization steps, according to live reporting.
Gen Z movement and the road to an interim setup
The youth-led “Gen Z” protests erupted after a controversial social media ban and long-festering anger over corruption, inequality, and elite impunity, rapidly escalating into one of Nepal’s largest uprisings in recent years. With curfews, Army on the streets, and government buildings targeted, the upheaval forced the prime minister’s resignation and a push for a non-partisan, clean-image interim leadership.
Updated casualty figures now cite at least 51 deaths, including one Indian national, illustrating the scale and gravity of the crisis as stakeholders race to restore order and chart an election path. Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah publicly urged dissolving Parliament and backed an interim administration under a neutral figure, later signaling acceptance of Karki’s leadership.
Who is Sushila Karki
Karki, 73, made history as Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice in 2016 and is widely seen as an anti-corruption hardliner with a clean public image. An alumna of Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, she has often spoken of her “BHU years,” highlighting deep India ties and formative academic training in political science.
In 2017, ruling MPs filed an impeachment motion accusing her of bias and executive interference, but the Supreme Court stayed the motion and ordered her reinstatement, after which she completed her term before retirement. The episode cemented her stature as a jurist who fiercely defended judicial independence in the face of political pressure.
Possible cabinet faces
Reports point to a small, technocratic cabinet with names that align with the Gen Z demand for integrity and competence, though final portfolios remain under discussion. Engineer Kulman Ghising, credited with ending Nepal’s crippling load-shedding, is frequently mentioned for a key role in the interim team given his popularity and reformist record.
Civil liberties lawyer Om Prakash Aryal has been coordinating with Karki in recent days and is cited in Nepali media as part of consultations ahead of the oath, suggesting a rights-and-governance focus in the early cabinet. Retired Lt Gen Balananda Sharma, noted for his role in integrating former Maoist combatants into the national army, has also been referenced by regional media as an influential interlocutor during the transition.
What happens next
Assuming the oath proceeds on schedule, Karki’s first cabinet meeting may consider emergency measures amid curfews and continued security deployments, according to live updates from Kathmandu-based sources. A formal proclamation to dissolve the House is expected to follow the oath, aligning with the deal brokered between Gen Z representatives and the President, and paving the way for a short interim period leading to fresh elections.
Security remains tight around Sheetal Niwas and Singha Durbar as authorities prepare for an immediate transition, with an announcement on cabinet composition anticipated soon after the swearing-in.
Background: claims about timing and venue
Different outlets have reported minor variations in oath timing 8:45 pm, 9 pm, and 9:15 pm local time with the common denominator being tonight at Sheetal Niwas under the President’s supervision. State broadcaster updates and local reports also indicate coordinated security arrangements for both the ceremony and the interim PM’s office preparations.
