Demonstrators Demand Resignation of Nepal PM Karki Over New Cabinet Choices

Kathmandu, Sep 15: Late night protests erupted outside the official residence of Nepal Prime Minister Sushila Karki in Baluwatar after members of ‘Hami Nepal’, led by Sudan Gurung, demanded her resignation over recent cabinet appointments.

The demonstrators, many of them young supporters, gathered around midnight following the announcement of three new ministers in Karki’s interim cabinet. They carried placards and chanted slogans such as “Prime Minister resign” and “Don’t play politics over the dead,” expressing anger that their input was ignored in the selection process.

At Gate No. 3 of the residence, Gurung addressed the crowd, declaring, “The most powerful force in Nepal is the people. No one can stop us. If we can put someone in power, we can also remove them.” Ironically, Gurung’s group had previously supported Karki’s appointment just last week, with Gurung paying symbolic respect during her swearing-in ceremony at Sheetal Niwas.

The newly appointed ministers include Om Prakash Aryal as Home Minister, Rameshore Khanal as Finance Minister, and Kulman Ghising as Energy Minister. While the appointments were praised by some as technocratic selections, Gurung’s camp alleged that the decisions were made unilaterally, sidelining their influence and hijacking their movement.

Prime Minister Karki, a former Chief Justice, has emphasized that her government is temporary, tasked with stabilizing the country until fresh elections are held by March 5, after which a new parliament will elect the next Prime Minister. In her first press conference at Singha Durbar, Karki stated her administration was not formed to “taste power” but to guide the nation through a sensitive transitional period.