Nepal has been thrown into a new era of political turmoil after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on September 9, just hours after nationwide protests left at least 19 people dead and more than 400 injured. Three more succumbed to injuries.
His resignation comes less than three months into his fourth term and underscores the fragility of Nepalโs political order, which has been under growing strain from youth-led demonstrations, economic stagnation, and entrenched corruption.
Not only this, President Ramchandra Paudel has also resigned, and the Himalayan country is in the middle of a Constitutional crisis. Nepalโs military began deploying troops in Kathmandu late Tuesday.
Dozens of gunmen seen among the protesters have not been identified as of early Wednesday.
The scenes of unrest in Kathmandu and other major cities bore a striking resemblance to the upheaval in neighbouring Bangladesh just a year earlier, where a youth- and Islamist-driven uprising forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down. In both countries, Generation Z has taken centre stage, channelling long-festering anger against political elites into mass movements that have already reshaped South Asiaโs political landscape.
The protests that toppled Oli began on September 8 when thousands of young Nepalis, many of them students, poured into the streets to demand accountability for decades of corruption and misrule. Organised largely through social media platforms, the demonstrations were initially peaceful, echoing the youthful energy seen in Bangladeshโs anti-government uprisings.
But the stateโs response proved decisive. Police fired live ammunition at demonstrators in Kathmandu and several other cities, killing 19 people, most of them students and young activists. More than 400 others were wounded. The brutality of the crackdown shocked the nation, galvanised public outrage, and spread the protests further. Images of bloodied students quickly went viral, fueling a sense of solidarity among the youth and drawing condemnation from human rights groups.
For Oli, the deadly events marked the collapse of a political comeback that had barely begun. Having first served as prime minister in 2015โ16 during Nepalโs difficult transition after the new constitution, he returned in 2018 and stayed in office until 2021. Briefly reinstated later that year, Oli faded into the background before returning triumphantly in July 2024, backed by the Nepali Congress and other factions.
Oli styled himself as a nationalist leader who would safeguard Nepalโs sovereignty in the face of Indian and Western influence, while also promising stability and prosperity at home. Yet his latest term was plagued by accusations of authoritarianism, failure to tackle systemic corruption, and an inability to connect with a restless younger generation demanding change.
The police killings on September 8 proved to be the breaking point. As protests escalated, government buildings-including the Parliament-were vandalised, while the homes of several politicians were attacked. Oliโs allies in the Nepali Congress began to distance themselves, unwilling to be tainted by association with the bloodshed. By the evening of September 9, Oli had no choice but to resign.
While Oliโs resignation satisfied one immediate demand of the protesters, it has not calmed the streets. Demonstrators, particularly the Gen Z activists driving the movement, have vowed to continue until systemic reforms are enacted. Their demands include robust anti-corruption measures, a more transparent and accountable government, and reforms of Nepalโs security forces to prevent further abuses.
The crisis has revealed a deep generational rift. For years, Nepalโs political elite, dominated by the same ageing leaders, have failed to address the aspirations of a young population that faces unemployment, corruption, and a lack of upward mobility. Now, those frustrations have spilt into the streets, and Oliโs fall is seen by many as just the beginning.
The uprising in Nepal comes barely a year after Bangladeshโs own dramatic upheaval, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in August 2024 following a youth-led revolt against corruption and authoritarian rule. While the contexts differ, the parallels are striking.
Both countries have witnessed the emergence of youth-driven protests fueled by social media, a rejection of the entrenched political class, and state crackdowns that turned anger into full-blown uprisings. Both governments relied on police and paramilitary forces to crush dissent, only to find themselves overwhelmed by the backlash. And in both cases, the resignation or removal of a sitting prime minister has left the political future deeply uncertain.
Analysts warn that this wave of youth-led uprisings could become a defining feature of South Asian politics, as disillusioned young citizens increasingly challenge outdated governance models.
The international community has expressed alarm over the deaths and instability in Nepal. India, which has had a tense relationship with Oli, urged calm and stability in carefully worded statements. China, another influential power in Nepalese politics, has remained largely silent but is watching closely, given its economic and strategic stakes in the Himalayan nation.
Western governments, including the United States and the European Union, have condemned the use of lethal force against protesters and called for dialogue. Human rights organisations have demanded independent investigations into the crackdown, with some urging international pressure to hold Nepalese security forces accountable.
Oliโs resignation raises immediate questions about Nepalโs political future. The Nepali Congress and other parties are scrambling to form an interim administration, but public trust in the entire political establishment is at rock bottom. Many protesters argue that simply replacing Oli with another seasoned politician will not address the deeper structural failures of Nepalโs democracy.
The coming weeks will determine whether Nepalโs leaders can turn the crisis into an opportunity for reform or whether the country will spiral into prolonged instability. If ignored, the grievances of Nepalโs youth could grow into something even more destabilising, following a pattern already visible in Bangladesh.
For now, Nepal remains on edge. Crowds continue to fill the streets of Kathmandu and beyond, waving flags and chanting for reform. As one young protester told reporters: โThis is not just about Oli. It is about the entire system. Until they change it, we will not stop.โ
KP Sharma Oliโs fall highlights a critical moment for Nepal and a warning for the wider region. Like Bangladesh, Nepal has now witnessed how a frustrated younger generation can bring down entrenched leaders through sheer determination, even in the face of lethal crackdowns.
Unless Nepalโs political class recognises the urgency of reform and addresses corruption, inequality, and authoritarian excesses, the cycle of unrest may continue. Oli may be gone, but the anger that swept him out of office remains-and it could shape the future of Nepalese politics for years to come.
Who is Balendra?
Amid the anti-government protests, a new face being backed by some of the Gen Z protestors is Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, also known as “Balen.”
Shah, who stood in support of the Gen Z protestors, started trending after the government rolled back the ban on social media platforms.
Several users on social media said that Balen represented the โvoice of a new generationโ, adding that he would work for the โgood of the country without personal interest.โ
โDear Balen, the time is nowโฆPlease step forward and take lead. Whole Nepal is with you,โ a user said on X. Another said that if Balen does become the next prime minister, it would mark a “generational shift.”
Born in 1990 in Kathmandu, Balen is currently the mayor of the metropolitan city. He has studied civil engineering in Nepal and holds a master’s degree in structural engineering from India’s Visvesvaraya Technological University, NDTV reported.
Shah has, in the past, actively worked as a rapper and lyricist in Nepal’s hip-hop scene, and included social issues like inequality and corruption in his music.
He contested the mayoral elections in Kathmandu in 2022 as an independent candidate, securing a victory with more than 61,000 votes.
After Oli’s resignation, Shah urged the Gen Z protestors to โremain restrainedโ. In a Facebook post, Shah said: โhe loss of the country’s wealth is, in reality, a loss to our own property. It is now essential that we all act with restraint.โ
The New York Times’ Bhadra Sharma reported that just after midnight, soldiers and well-armed police could be seen on some city streets in Kathmandu. The forces encircled groups of protesters and, in some cases, forced them to their knees, with hands crossed behind their heads. Nepalโs army has a fearsome reputation, and people generally take orders from soldiers seriously. Two hours earlier, the Nepali military had announced it was sending in troops to restore order. Some young men created roadblocks with burning tires and waved sticks at approaching vehicles.
Anushka Patil reported that more than 200 injured people were admitted to Nepalโs Civil Service Hospital on Tuesday, and three have died, the hospital said, bringing the death toll over the past two days to 22.
Any use of force by the Nepali Army on Tuesday night will be closely watched by international observers after security forces opened fire on protesters on Monday. The U.N. human rights chief, Volker Tรผrk, has called for an investigation into those killings and into other โreports of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by the security forces.โ
And the U.N.โs office in Nepal has warned authorities that the law enforcement response should remain โin line with international human rights standards,โ adding that the country would โbenefit from taking concrete steps to address the root causes of issues raised.โ
Several nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan, signed a statement on Monday affirming โstrong support for the universal rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expressionโ in Nepal. The number of signatories rose to 10 on Tuesday after Germany, Norway and Switzerland signed on.
Additional reporting by The Weekly Blitz
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