KATHMANDU – Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli was sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister on July 15 after his Communist Party forged a coalition government with the center-left Nepali Congress, shifting power in the country’s often-volatile Parliament.
Mr. Oli, 72, leader of the second-largest party in Parliament – the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), or CPN (UML) – returns as prime minister for the fourth time. In the Himalayan republic of about 30 million people, overshadowed by giant neighbors India and China, Mr. Oli has historically balanced relations between the two, maintaining cordial ties while reaching out to Beijing to reduce Nepal’s dependency on New Delhi.
“I, KP Sharma Oli, in the name of the country and people, pledge that I will be loyal to the Constitution… and fulfill my duty as the prime minister,” Mr. Oli declared as President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath of office.
Political Background and Alliances
First elected as prime minister in 2015, Mr. Oli was re-elected in 2018 with a rare majority government and re-appointed briefly in 2021. His predecessor and former coalition government ally, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, lost a vote of confidence on July 12, barely 18 months after taking office. Mr. Dahal, a former Maoist guerrilla commander known by his nom de guerre Prachanda (“The Fierce One”), stepped down after Mr. Oli’s party withdrew its support. Mr. Oli then struck a deal with Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress, promising to yield the post to the five-time former prime minister Deuba, 78, later in the parliamentary term.
Historical and Political Context
Nepal became a federal republic in 2008 following a decade-long civil war and a peace deal that integrated Maoists into the government and abolished the monarchy. Since then, a revolving door of aging prime ministers and a culture of political horse-trading have fueled public perceptions that the government is disconnected from Nepal’s pressing issues.
Challenges Ahead
Despite being a seasoned politician, Mr. Oli faces new challenges. Political journalist Binu Subedi commented, “As new parties challenge old leaders, we have to see how this coalition performs. Will they be more democratic and work well for the people? Or think that they can do anything, because they have the strength of numbers?”
A Long Political Journey
Mr. Oli’s political career spans nearly six decades. Born in 1952 in Nepal’s Tehrathum district near the eastern border with India, he was drawn into underground communist politics as a teenager. Arrested in 1973 at age 21 for campaigning to overthrow the monarchy, he was jailed for 14 years, four of which he spent in solitary confinement. During his imprisonment, he studied and wrote poetry, often penning verses on cigarette boxes when he could not access paper. After his release in 1987, he joined the CPN (UML) and rose through the party ranks, eventually winning elections to Parliament.
Future Elections
Nepal’s next general elections are due in 2027. How Mr. Oli and the new coalition government navigate the current political landscape will be closely watched by both domestic and international observers.