Ramroonline
September 14, 2025 
Kathmandu, Sept 14: The last week remained the most turbulent period in Nepal’s modern political history. The Gen-Z’s protest against corruption, nepotism, bad governance turned such an uprising that toppled the government, leading to dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR) and placing the first female Prime Minister Sushila Karki with the mandate to hold next election coming March 5.
It is a brief explainer on day-wise incidents from September 8 to 14. September 8: Gen-Z demonstration and death of youths.
The horrible scourge on September 8 had taken the lives of dozens of youths- as many as 19 by 10:00pm that day. On September 8, the Gen-Z demonstration begun peacefully from Maitighar Mandala moved towards New Baneshwor, where there is the federal parliament building. The demonstration clashed with security officials as it reached at the gate of parliament building.
The security persons faced tough time, resorting to firing that claimed the lives of the youths as many as 19 youths till 10:00pm.Even the journalists were injured in police firing.
Curfew was clamped in the New Baneshwor area, which was gradually expanded to other places in the Kathmandu Valley. Nepali Army persons appeared in the streets with curfew but the agitating youths did not leave the streets till late in the evening.
In the Cabinet meeting held in the evening, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned from the post. The Gen-Zeers said they had no intention at all to turn violent.
September 9: Mob attacks, arson, vandalism, jail escapes; govt fall.
Next day, September 9, became further forceful- fiercest in deed- that the Gen-Z protest went nationwide, damaging massive properties. It was beyond the Zen-Z that mob ruled the roost. The Nepal Police surrendered to the protestors. Irrespective of curfew, the rage over the death of youths flared in devastations- the building of legislature, executive and judiciary.
Even the public offices- the Supreme Court and Singh Durbar- close to the Nepali Army Headquarters were set ablaze. The mob was ruling.
The public offices, including that of Nepal Police, across the country were set ablaze. Arson continued on residences of political leaders and party offices including that of Nepali Congress, CPN UML and Maoist Centre; some media houses were vandalized and torched. Many hotels and business complexes, including Hilton Hotel, and Bhatbhateni Supermarket, turned into ashes.
Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his spouse foreign minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba were beaten up by the protestors and their residence set ablaze. The security persons rescued them with utmost difficulty.
The spouse of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal was burnt inside their residence. She was rescued and taken to hospital. Her treatment is going on now.
Even the police were beaten up and lynched by the enraged protestors in various places of Kathmandu. Protestors vandalized a number of police stations and set them on fire.
The Cabinet ministers were rescued by the Nepali Army from Ministers’ Quarters of Bhainsepati, Lalitpur and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli from Baluwatar, taking to the safer location.
As the mob reigned, anarchy unleashed across the country. The jail breaks and escapes continued in various districts- thousands of inmates and detainees escaped the jails.
Ultimately, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped down from the post. PM Oli’s resignation letter read: “In view of the present abnormal situation, I tender my resignation from the post of PM as per Article 77 (1) of the Constitution for the additional initiation to resolve the problems and give a political outlet.”
Worryingly, even after the PM resigned from the post, the mob did not halt anarchy.
PM’s resignation was approved by President Ramchandra Paudel after a while.
Following the PM’s resignation, Chief Secretary, Eaknarayan Aryal; Chief of Army Staff, Ashok Raj Sigdel; Home Secretary, Gokarna Mani Duwadi; Inspector General of the Armed Police Force, Raju Aryal; Inspector General of the Nepal Police, Chandra Kuber Khapung; and Chief of National Investigation Department, Hutaraj Thapa, made a public appeal. Expressing tribute to those killed in course of demonstration and extending condolences to the bereaved family members, they reminded the endorsement of the PM’s resignation and appealed to all citizens to exercise restraint to prevent further human loss and property damage. They also appealed to all to seek peaceful solution through political dialogue.
Even Mayor of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balendra Shah, urged the Gen-Z protestors to halt the protest after PM stepped down.
The Nepali Army took full command of the national security, taking together all security agencies from 10:00pm on September 9. NA’s Public Relations and Information Directorate issued a press note that some groups were taking advantage of present adverse situation and damaging public and personal properties, conducting looting spree and arsons, which must be stopped immediately. “If such activities are continued further, the Nepali Army and other security bodies, with their major responsibility to protect Nepal and Nepalis, will be firm to take under control the situation from 10:00pm onwards now,” press release mentioned.
Late in the evening, Chief of Army Staff, Sigdel called on the agitating groups to suspend their protest programmes and come ahead for a dialogue to provide a peaceful solution to the country from the recent adverse situation. Giving a video message, he urged them to prevent further damage to life and property and to cooperate in the common responsibility of maintaining peace, security, and national unity.
September 10: Gen-Z dialogue to pick new PM, NA supports dialogue process
With the NA persons massively mobilized in the streets, it was a relative peace. But, the public buildings and private properties were still burning. The people’s mobility was too sparse that only essential service people were in the streets.
Fear still gripped people, shock wave ran high.
NA played a very constructive role by extending support to the President, the Head of the State, in the dialogue process in this most hostile and turbulent time in the country.
Various representatives of Gen-Z met with NA as part of the dialogue.
With the return of gradual normalcy, the Tribhuvan International Airport resumed flights in the afternoon.
Political parties condemned the violence.
September 11: Deluge of misinformation, disinformation spread panic.
At a time when the NA and the President were working untiringly to clear the political vacuum, the day, especially in the late afternoon to midnight, instilled anxieties and fear among public owing to flood of fake news.
The baseless rumours, misinformation and disinformation swallowed the entire information landscape, especially on the social networks, where the netizens were vigilant over the unfolding chaos and creating pressure on the NA and President to take timely step.
Taking advantage of the murky situation, former King’s old video was made viral on social network, which made people further anxious.
The Gen-Z representatives also piled up pressure on NA to forward decision process so that no regressive elements could re-emerge.
The political parties spoke for the utmost dialogue and consensus to seek solution.
General Secretary of Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa, made apology and vowed to restructure the party organization. It encouraged other party leaders to make such commitment. The netizens continued speaking for correction in parties and even the leadership transfer.
Amid public demand for President’s address, President Ramchandra Paudel issued a press statement informing that he was working actively to restore peace and protect democracy, thereby clearing present deadlock. He urged all to exercise restraint and appealed to cooperate in a bid to restore peace because efforts were going on to address protestors’ demand and find resolution at the earliest.
September 12: First female PM Karki sworn-in, HoR dissolved, new election on March 5
Following a series of intense discussions and dialogues with constitutional experts, political party leaders, and Gen-Z representatives, President Ramchandra Paudel appointed the former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the Prime Minister of interim government. She is mandated to hold new election to the HoR in six months- date fixed on March 5, 2026.
Karki, a bold and assertive figure in Nepal’s judiciary, set the record of the first female Prime Minister in Nepal. She had been continuously advocating for good governance and transparency even after her retirement from the post of Chief Justice. It is because of her ardent advocacy for good governance, the Gen-Z picked her as the best figure to lead the new government. Even Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balendra Shah, backed her.
The brief swearing-in ceremony was attended by the Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut, foreign ambassadors to Nepal, Karki’s spouse, Durga Prasad Subedi, former prime minister, Baburam Bhattarai, Chief Secretary of Nepal government, Eaknarayan Aryal, Gen-Z representative, Sudan Gurung, and high level government officials.
In the same night, President Paudel dissolved the HoR upon the recommendation of the new Prime Minister Karki.
Earlier, the political parties and their leaders were issuing serious of statements, demanding for the political consensus for clearing the deadlock.
September 13: Parties’ criticism, President’s reminder, curfew lifted.
A day after the appointment of Sushila Karki as the prime minister of interim government and the dissolution of HoR, the political parties, which were advocating for political way out based on consensus, announced the moves as unconstitutional.
The Chief Whips of the Nepali Congress, CPN UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party Nepal and Nagarik Unmukti Party jointly released a press statement, expressing concern over the House dissolution. They argued it was against Article 76 (7) of Constitution, precedents set by the Supreme Court and Nepal’s constitutional traditions.
The concern was showed even by Nepal Bar Association and the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ).
The curfew and prohibitory orders were lifted with gradual return to normalcy. People’s movement eased.
Prime Minister Karki visited different hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley and took stock of their health condition of the injured ones.
In the evening, President Paudel reminded the political parties again to utilize the opportunity gained after utmost knack. They are urged by the President to win citizen’s trust and exercise restraint.
September 14: PM Karki assumes office, Chief Secretary vows cooperation.
As of the filing of this report today (Sept 14), Prime Minister Karki has assumed the office in Singha Durbar a while ago. Chief Secretary Eaknarayan Aryal vowed to cooperate with PM Karki’s bid on good governance and national mandate.