Protests erupt as PM Karki expands cabinet; resignations demanded

KATHMANDU: Newly appointed Prime Minister Sushila Karki’s move to expand her cabinet has sparked protests from dissatisfied factions.

On Sunday night, a group led by Sudhan Gurung — who claims to be a front-runner of the Gen Z movement — staged a demonstration outside the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, demanding her resignation.

The Gurung faction expressed anger over being excluded from consultations during the cabinet expansion. The protest included families of those injured and killed during the Gen Z uprising. In a fiery speech, Gurung warned, “If we return to the streets, no one can stop us. Wherever we have placed our strength, we will pull it out from there.” He also lashed out at Advocate Om Prakash Aryal, saying, “Om Prakash Aryal made himself Home Minister from inside! Don’t play politics over the dead.”

Demonstrators repeatedly chanted slogans such as “Prime Minister Resign!” and “Stop Politicizing the Martyrs.”

Ironically, just last Friday, Gurung’s own “Hamro Nepal” youth faction had proposed Sushila Karki for the post of interim Prime Minister. Karki made history as Nepal’s first female Prime Minister and dissolved the House of Representatives immediately after taking office, announcing fresh elections for March 4.

Meanwhile, Karki pressed ahead with key appointments to complete her interim cabinet on Sunday. According to sources, she has entrusted Advocate Om Prakash Aryal with the portfolios of Home Affairs and Law.

Aryal gained national prominence after filing a case at the Supreme Court against the controversial appointment of Lokman Singh Karki as Chief of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

He has since remained active in public interest litigation and previously served as legal adviser to Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

Aryal also took part in Karki’s consultations with President Ram Chandra Paudel during her appointment process.

The Finance Ministry has been handed to former Finance Secretary Rameshwor Khanal, who recently submitted a 447-page economic reform report to the KP Oli government, highlighting systemic weaknesses and concrete solutions for the Nepali economy.

The Energy Ministry has gone to former Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) chief Kulman Ghising, who became a household name after ending years of power cuts and load-shedding in Nepal.

Ghising was controversially removed from NEA by the Oli administration earlier this year.

Prime Minister Karki finalized these appointments after personally calling each candidate for discussions at her office.

Earlier, she had already appointed senior advocate Sabita Bhandari as Attorney General.

Karki is expected to keep her cabinet limited to a maximum of 11 members.