Nepal witnessed a dramatic turn of events late on Friday night as President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved the country’s parliament and called for fresh elections on March 5, 2026.
The decision came hours after the appointment of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the nation’s first woman Prime Minister in an interim capacity, following a week of violent protests that forced the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.
According to a statement from the president’s office, Paudel “dissolved the House of Representatives … and fixed March 5, 2026, Thursday for the elections.” The move capped days of political uncertainty after a massive demonstration, led by Nepal’s young population, shook the country, leaving at least 51 people dead and more than 1,300 injured, as per reports.
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Karki’s appointment came after two days of negotiations involving the president, army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, and protest leaders. Her elevation to the top post marks a historic moment for Nepal, which has long struggled with political instability.
India, Nepal’s southern neighbour, welcomed the developments. “Heartfelt congratulations to the Honorable Sushila Karki Ji on assuming the office of Prime Minister of Nepal’s interim government. India is fully committed to the peace, progress, and prosperity of Nepal’s brothers and sisters,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X.
I extend my best wishes to Right Hon. Mrs. Sushila Karki on assuming office as the Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal. India remains firmly committed to the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 13, 2025
The protests had erupted after the government banned social media platforms, triggering anger among the youth who accused leaders of corruption and nepotism. The violence began to subside only after Oli stepped down on Tuesday and the ban was rolled back.
On Friday, signs of calm slowly returned as shops reopened and vehicles returned to the roads. Security forces, who earlier in the week had fired on protesters, were back on duty carrying batons instead of rifles.
Nepal, a nation of 30 million people situated between India and China, has been struggling with economic hardship and political turmoil since the monarchy was abolished in 2008. Limited employment opportunities continue to drive large numbers of its youth to seek jobs abroad in the Middle East, South Korea and Malaysia.
