Nepal sets March elections after naming interim prime minister

KATHMANDU– Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved parliament and scheduled new elections for March 5, 2026, following a week of violent protests that resulted in the resignation of former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.

In a historic move, Paudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as Nepal’s first female prime minister to lead an interim government. The decision came after two days of intense negotiations between the president, army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, and leaders of the nationwide protests, which left at least 51 people dead and over 1,300 injured.

The unrest was triggered by a social media ban, which was later lifted, and escalated into widespread violence led largely by the country’s youth. Shops reopened, vehicles returned to the streets, and normalcy slowly returned as authorities replaced firearms with batons to maintain order.

India welcomed the developments, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating Karki and emphasising the importance of peace, progress, and prosperity in Nepal.

Nepal has faced political and economic challenges since the monarchy was abolished in 2008, with many young people seeking work abroad in countries such as the Middle East, South Korea, and Malaysia. The interim government now faces the task of stabilising the nation ahead of the upcoming elections.