KATHMANDU, Sept 13 — In a historic and emotional turn of events, Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel has officially dissolved the House of Representatives and scheduled fresh national elections for March 5, 2026, following one of the nation’s most turbulent weeks in recent history.
The decision comes just hours after former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as Nepal’s first woman interim Prime Minister, marking a monumental moment for gender equality in the country. Her appointment follows the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who stepped down amid mounting pressure from massive, youth-led protests.
These protests — driven by the tech-savvy and outspoken Generation Z — erupted in response to a now-reversed social media ban and grew into a broader anti-corruption movement. The nationwide unrest left at least 51 people dead and over 1,300 injured, making it one of Nepal’s most painful episodes in recent years.
Following two days of intense behind-the-scenes negotiations between President Paudel, Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, and leaders of the protest movement, Karki emerged as a unifying figure. She now carries the weight of guiding the nation toward democratic renewal and rebuilding public trust.
India, Nepal’s southern neighbor, welcomed the transition. “Heartfelt congratulations to the Honourable 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,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X (formerly Twitter).
For a country that has weathered years of political and economic uncertainty since the monarchy was abolished in 2008, this moment signals both a challenge and an opportunity. As millions of Nepalese youth continue to seek jobs overseas — from Malaysia and South Korea to the Middle East — many now hope that the winds of change at home will bring meaningful reforms and opportunities.
Yesterday, scenes of life returning to normal were visible in Kathmandu — shops reopened, traffic resumed, and police were seen holding batons instead of guns. The air felt a little lighter, and hope a little closer.
