Key Points
- Former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli made his first public appearance on September 27, 2025, since resigning on September 9 amid the deadly Gen Z-led anti-corruption protests.
- He addressed a youth wing event of his CPN-UML party in Bhaktapur, a strategic move to reconnect with a younger base that had been critical of his leadership.
- Oli demanded full transparency from the interim government led by Sushila Karki, calling for the release of all official statements and orders issued during the crisis.
- He dismissed rumors of fleeing the country, stating defiantly, “We have to build this country,” and blamed “different forces” for the widespread violence and vandalism during the protests.
New Delhi: Former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli made a strategic and defiant return to the public stage on Saturday, September 27, nearly three weeks after the violent “Gen Z” uprising forced his resignation and sent him into seclusion. Addressing a large gathering of his party’s youth wing, the Rastriya Yuwa Sangh, in Bhaktapur, Oli slammed the new interim government and signaled his intent to remain a central figure in Nepali politics.
Oli, who had been under Nepal Army protection since stepping down on September 9, used his first public speech to challenge the narrative surrounding his ousting and rally his CPN-UML party base ahead of elections scheduled for March 2026.
Demands for Transparency and Rejection of “Rumors”
In a direct challenge to the interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, Oli demanded complete transparency regarding the events that led to his downfall. “This government should make my statements public. They should also make others’ statements public, and the instructions and actions given to the police and officials should also be made public,” he declared. “We are not involved in any conspiracy. We do everything with transparency”.
Oli forcefully pushed back against what he called rumors of his government’s corruption and his potential flight from Nepal. “What are they thinking? Will we hand over our country to this government and flee abroad?” he asked rhetorically. “We have to build this country. We will once again bring it into the constitutional democratic mainstream”.
Blame Shifted for Protest Violence
The Gen Z-led protests, which began against a social media ban, quickly escalated into a widespread anti-corruption movement, culminating in Nepal’s deadliest violence since the 2006 pro-democracy movement. The final death toll reached 74, mostly young protestors, with many killed in clashes with security forces and in fires set at government buildings, including the Parliament.
While Oli’s government faced severe criticism for its handling of the crisis, he used his speech to shift blame for the destruction. He claimed that while genuine “Generation-Z activists” were staying home, the widespread looting of industries and vandalism of historic institutions like Singha Durbar was carried out by “different forces” attempting to destabilize the country, drawing parallels to the Maoist insurgency era.
A Calculated Return to Politics
Analysts view Oli’s reappearance at a youth-centric event as a calculated move to reconnect with a demographic that was instrumental in his ouster. His speech was a clear attempt to re-energize his political base, defend his legacy, and position himself and the CPN-UML as the primary alternative to the current interim administration as the nation heads towards a period of political transition and elections. The return follows a key meeting of the CPN-UML party secretariat, confirming his re-engagement in national politics.
