Sushila Karki sworn in as Nepal’s First Female Interim PM Amid Turmoil

Digital Desk

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as Nepal’s first female interim Prime Minister on Friday, tasked with conducting fresh parliamentary elections within six months. President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath at the President’s House, Sheetal Niwas, in a ceremony attended by the Vice President, Chief Justice, diplomats, and foreign dignitaries.

India welcomes interim government
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava congratulated Karki, reaffirming India’s commitment to work with Nepal as a close neighbour, democratic ally, and long-standing development partner. The Government of India expressed hope that her leadership would help restore peace and stability in Nepal.

Opposition and youth leaders react
President Poudel had dissolved the House of Representatives prior to Karki’s appointment, a move strongly opposed by KP Sharma Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (UML). UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel urged party cadres to take to the streets in protest. Meanwhile, youth leaders who spearheaded the Gen-Z protests against corruption and social media restrictions declined to join the interim government but vowed to closely monitor its functioning.

Violence eases, economic losses mount
The Gen-Z-led protests, which erupted on September 8, resulted in at least 51 deaths and over 1,500 injuries. Curfews were eased in Kathmandu on the fifth day, and checkpoints along the India-Nepal border have reopened, though the army remains deployed as a precaution. Kantipur TV, torched earlier in the week, has resumed broadcasting, but the hotel industry suffered devastating losses—with 20–25 properties looted or destroyed, causing over NPR 25 billion (₹16 billion) in damage.

Indian journalists assaulted
Two Indian journalists were assaulted while covering the unrest: a Republic TV reporter was slapped by a protester, and an IANS cameraman was harassed. A female journalist was also prevented from reporting, as protesters accused Indian media of misrepresenting their movement.

About Sushila Karki
Karki earned her Master’s in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University and served as Nepal’s Chief Justice from July 2016 to June 2017. She faced an impeachment motion over alleged bias but remains a prominent advocate for judicial independence. She follows Chief Justice Khilraj Regmi, the only other judge to serve as interim PM in 2013.