Nepal in Crisis as Interim PM Decision Stalls
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Kathmandu
- Sep 12, 2025
- 292
It has been 48 hours since KP Sharma Oli stepped down as Prime Minister, but Nepal remains without a leader as political parties and the presidency struggle to agree on an interim arrangement.
Despite marathon talks through Thursday, negotiators failed to break the deadlock. Discussions resumed at 9 am today, with former Chief Justice Sushila Karki emerging as the frontrunner. However, the debate over whether to dissolve the current parliament has blocked progress.
According to insiders, President Ram Chandra Paudel is unwilling to dissolve the legislature, while Karki has argued she cannot assume office as a non-MP unless parliament is dissolved. The President has decided to seek fresh constitutional advice on Friday morning to explore legal options for her appointment.
Meanwhile, the streets continue to burn. 34 people have died and more than 1,500 injured in violent protests across Nepal. Clashes even broke out among the youth demonstrators themselves, with some accusing Karki of being “pro-India.”
The Nepal Army has extended its four-day curfew across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, citing the need to protect public order while granting limited relaxations for essential services.
The unrest has also triggered a massive prison crisis: over 15,000 inmates escaped from more than two dozen jails. At least 8 prisoners have died in jailbreak-related violence since Tuesday, including three shot dead after igniting a gas cylinder explosion in one prison.
Other names still in contention for interim leadership include Balen Shah, Kulman Ghising, and Harka Sampang, but the political class appears locked on Karki. The army has urged parties to act swiftly, warning that restoring governance and holding elections on time is now a national priority.
For now, Nepal waits anxiously — caught between a collapsing political order, spreading lawlessness, and the urgency of choosing a caretaker government to guide the country toward stability.