Nepal unrest: Army takes charge, Kathmandu Mayor emerges as successor, India on alert, China silent & more

Nepal plunged into an unprecedented crisis on Tuesday following the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, with protesters targeting the entire political class and torching Parliament, the President’s Office, the PM’s residence, government buildings, political parties’ offices and homes of senior leaders.

“In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution,” Oli wrote to President Ram Chandra Paudel in his resignation letter after two days of violent anticorruption agitations led by ‘Gen Z protesters’.

Oli’s resignation was the protesters’ key demand. Home minister Ramesh Lekhak, agriculture minister Ramnath Adhikari, youth and sports minister Teju Lal Chaudhary and water minister Pradeep Yadav are among the leaders who have resigned so far.

There are reports that the Nepal Army will step in till order is restored and a new government is installed.


The Army said it is “fully committed to discharging its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, geographical integrity, national unity and the security of the Nepali people”.

Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and parliamentarian Sumana Shrestha are reportedly seen as candidates favoured by the protesters to succeed Oli.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Shah said that since the PM has already stepped down, protesters must avoid further loss of life and property.

In a Facebook post on Monday, he wrote, “The rally is clearly a spontaneous movement of Gen Z, for whom even I may seem old. I want to understand their aspirations, objectives and thinking.”

Shah has received the support of many sections in Nepal and immense media coverage due to his unconventional entry into politics.

India, which has huge stakes in Nepal, said that it is closely monitoring the developments and is deeply saddened by the loss of many young lives.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased. We also wish speedy recovery for those who were injured. As a close friend and neighbour, we hope that all concerned will exercise restraint and address any issues through peaceful means and dialogue,” according to a readout issued by the MEA.

China has yet to officially react to the fall of Oli. Visuals showed a war-like situation in Kathmandu, with small battalions of young men and women occupying public spaces and engaging in pitched battles with cops.