As Nepal grapples with a leadership vacuum following Prime Minister K P Oli’s resignation on Tuesday, youth-led groups have taken center stage in determining the country’s next caretaker government. According to Nepali Times, protests and discussions among Gen Z activists continue outside the Nepal Army headquarters in Kathmandu, focusing on the nomination of a transitional prime minister.
The youth campaign, spearheaded by collectives such as Hami Nepal, emerged from the anti-corruption and anti-nepotism protests earlier this week, which turned violent in Kathmandu and claimed the lives of thirty people on Monday and Tuesday. In the wake of Oli’s departure, the Nepal Army assumed security responsibilities, while President Ram Chandra Poudel called upon Nepali youth to engage in dialogue and negotiation.
Thousands of Gen Z participants held hours-long discussions on platforms like Discord on Wednesday, ultimately endorsing former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the preferred candidate to lead a caretaker government. The youth groups communicated their choice to Chief of Army Staff Ashokraj Sigdel, who is also consulting with leaders from at least a dozen other groups claiming to represent Gen Z, including royalist factions believed to have infiltrated the earlier protests.
Violence during the anti-government rallies resulted in the destruction of key national institutions, including Singha Darbar, Parliament, and the Supreme Court buildings, as well as attacks on party offices, media outlets, schools, and private residences. The original Gen Z collectives, however, disavowed involvement in these violent acts.
Legal experts emphasize the limits of Nepal’s 2015 Constitution in addressing the current crisis. Former National Human Rights Commissioner Mohna Ansari noted on social media that while the President can exercise emergency powers under Article 273, such powers require parliamentary endorsement within a month and remain valid for three months. Ansari further stressed that “former Chief Justice Sushila Karki is the best option to address the adverse circumstances prevailing in the nation,” urging transparency and public engagement in the process.
The Gen Z movement remains fragmented, with no single leadership structure, even as various factions continue negotiations with the Army. Other prominent figures floated as potential caretaker leaders include Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah, former NEA chief Kulman Ghising, and ex-education minister Sumana Shrestha. Social media polls suggest broad public support for Sushila Karki, while other proposed leaders appear hesitant to assume interim roles.
Meanwhile, former RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane, recently released from prison, has seen little support among youth reformers, and figures such as royalist businessman Durga Prasai have publicly stated they will defer to Gen Z’s decision.
Political analysts caution that Nepal’s youth must balance their demands for systemic reform with constitutional provisions. Experts suggest that a temporary government could be appointed under Article 76(5) of the Constitution, allowing for a six-month transitional period to hold elections while avoiding long-term political instability.
As the country looks toward a new phase of governance, the coming days will be critical. Nepali youth are expected to finalize their choice for the caretaker prime minister by Thursday, potentially shaping the trajectory of Nepal’s democracy in the months ahead.
