Nepal’s PM KP Sharma Oli Resigns Amid Gen-Z Protests and Deadly Clashes
In a dramatic turn of events, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped down on Tuesday afternoon, bowing to massive pressure from widespread Gen-Z protests that have rocked the country. The protests, demanding an end to corruption and the lifting of a social media ban, turned violent, leading to the tragic deaths of 19 people. Oli handed over his resignation letter to President Ram Chandra Poudel, explaining that the "abnormal situation" caused by the escalating unrest forced his decision.
Oli took office as Prime Minister on July 14, 2024, after striking a deal with the Nepali Congress, the biggest party in parliament. In his letter, he referenced Article 77 (1) of the Nepal constitution, saying this move would help resolve the crisis through constitutional means. But with the streets boiling over, his government couldn’t hold together.
The spark? Gen-Z youth hit the streets on Monday, furious over corruption scandals and restrictions on social media. Things quickly spiraled when police cracked down hard, killing 19 protesters. By Tuesday, anger exploded across Nepal. Protesters stormed the parliament building in Kathmandu’s Baneshwor area and set it ablaze. They had tried to breach it the day before, but strong police action led to the deadly clashes.
The chaos didn’t stop there. Demonstrators forced their way into Singh Durbar, Nepal’s key government hub, and torched its main gate. Party offices of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) or CPN-UML and Nepali Congress in the Kathmandu Valley got vandalized and burned too. Local media reports show similar attacks on government buildings in other parts of the country, with protesters targeting leaders’ homes.
Videos flooding social media captured protesters setting fire to Prime Minister Oli’s residence in Balakot, Bhaktapur. They also hit the home of former Prime Minister Dahal and gathered outside ministers’ houses. Even President Ram Chandra Poudel’s house and those of former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba and ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak faced attacks. In Lalitpur, Chief District Officer Suman Ghimire said the district is tense, with protests popping up everywhere. Bhaktapur’s CDO Namaraj Ghimire added that authorities are holding back, avoiding orders to shoot at crowds.
The ruling coalition cracked under the strain. Ministers from Nepali Congress started quitting one by one. Home Minister, Agriculture Minister, Health and Population Minister Pradip Poudel, and Youth and Sports Minister Teju Lal Chaudhary all resigned, apologizing for the harsh police response against the Gen-Z protesters. Earlier, Nepali Congress General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma called on Oli to step down, declaring the seven-point agreement that formed the government between CPN-UML and Congress is now "no longer valid."
To top it off, all lawmakers from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the fourth-largest in parliament, resigned en masse, pushing for an interim government. Some buzz suggests Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah might step in as interim Prime Minister.
Kathmandu remains on edge despite a curfew. Protests rage on in various parts of the valley, and it’s anyone’s guess where Nepal’s politics heads next. The Gen-Z movement has shaken the nation, highlighting deep frustrations over corruption and freedoms. Stay tuned as this story unfolds—could this lead to real change in Nepal’s leadership?
