Kathmandu, Sep 9: Nepal plunged into political and social turmoil on Tuesday after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned under intense pressure from widespread Gen-Z protests that left 19 people dead. Oli submitted his resignation to President Ram Chandra Poudel, citing the “abnormal situation” in the country and invoking Article 77(1) of the Constitution.
Elected on July 14, 2024, through a consensus with the Nepali Congress, Oli’s tenure collapsed within weeks as the ruling coalition fractured. Several Congress ministers resigned, while General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma urged him to quit, declaring the seven-point agreement with the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) defunct. Reports suggest Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah could be named interim Prime Minister.
The protests, triggered by anger over corruption and a controversial social media ban, escalated violently after security forces killed 19 demonstrators on Monday. By Tuesday, enraged protestors stormed and torched the parliament building in Baneshwor and set fire to the Singh Durbar administrative complex. Party headquarters of both the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress were also defaced and burned.
Across the country, government offices, leaders’ residences, and administrative centres faced arson and vandalism. Viral videos showed Oli’s Balakot home in flames, while local officials confirmed attacks on the houses of former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Sher Bahadur Deuba, as well as President Poudel.
Despite curfews, protests continued to spread across Kathmandu Valley and other districts. Chief District Officers in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur described the situation as “tense” but said authorities avoided ordering live fire.
With the Rastriya Swatantra Party also resigning en masse, Nepal’s political future remains uncertain. Calls for an interim government grow louder as Gen-Z protesters vow to continue their agitation until accountability and systemic reforms are ensured.
