KP Sharma Oli, Nepal's former Prime Minister and Communist Party of Nepal (UML) Chairperson, has made his first public appearance since resigning. He attended a student organization event in Bhaktapur. On September 9, Oli resigned from his role amidst widespread protests. Since then, he had stayed away from the public eye. KP Sharma Oli remarked that the current government is being called a 'Gen-Z government,' which neither conforms to constitutional provisions nor arises from a true vote of the people. It was born out of chaos and destruction.
Initially, KP Oli was provided with protection by the Nepal Army and later relocated to a temporary residence. His reemergence is being viewed as an effort to reconnect with the youth and maintain his political influence.
Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stated, "The day after, on September 9, following the previous day's events, I handed in my resignation around 11 AM. There were unfortunate incidents on the first day, and I attempted to not escalate the situation, but when I realized matters were beyond my control, I stepped down. Subsequently, acts of arson, vandalism, and looting began."
Why Oli Resigned
It was due to the violence and pressure from the Gen-Z protests that Oli stepped down from the Prime Minister's position. Amidst the protests and fires, he was evacuated from the PM House by helicopter. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was made interim Prime Minister in his stead. Oli clarified that he did not order the police to open fire, but the public's anger was directed towards his government.
Corruption-Uprooting Gen-Z Revolution
This movement has been dubbed the "Generation-Z Revolution." It's drawing comparisons with the 2006 People's Movement which ended King Gyanendra's reign and turned Nepal into a republic. Though parliament is dissolved and elections are scheduled for March 2026, protests persist in Kathmandu and other major cities.
Gen-Z Protests Claimed 74 Lives
Amid these conditions, Oli's return is viewed by political analysts as a bid to remain relevant. The movement initially began as a call for transparency, an end to corruption, and the reversal of social media bans, snowballing into intense protests. On the first day, 21 demonstrators, mostly students, perished. The next day recorded another 39 deaths, including 15 who succumbed to severe burns. In the following ten days, 14 further deaths occurred. To date, a total of 74 protesters have lost their lives.
