Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned from office on Tuesday afternoon after two days of mass protests led by Gen Z youths, his secretariat confirmed.
The resignation follows violent clashes in Kathmandu on Monday, when police opened fire on demonstrators outside the Federal Parliament and other sites, killing 19 and injuring more than 500. Protesters, largely young Nepalis, have been rallying against corruption, restrictions on freedoms, and government crackdowns.
Despite curfews across the Kathmandu Valley and a heavy security presence, demonstrations have continued to swell, with crowds targeting political leaders’ residences and staging sit-ins at major intersections.
In his resignation letter to President Ramchandra Paudel, Oli acknowledged the “extraordinary circumstances” facing the country and said his decision was meant to pave the way for a constitutional political solution.
“I was appointed Prime Minister on Asar 31, 2071 BS, under Article 76(2) of the Constitution of Nepal. Considering the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country and in order to facilitate further efforts toward a constitutional political solution and problem resolution, I hereby resign from the office of Prime Minister, effective immediately, under Article 77(1)a of the Constitution,” the letter stated.
Oli’s departure marks a dramatic turn in Nepal’s ongoing political crisis, which has escalated into one of the most intense protest movements in recent years.