Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli Resigns Amid Anti-Corruption Protests

Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has stepped down from office following days of violent anti-corruption protests that have gripped the nation and left at least 19 people dead. His resignation, submitted to President Ram Chandra Paudel on Tuesday, comes as the Himalayan nation faces one of its most serious political crises in years.

In his resignation letter, the 73-year-old leader said he was quitting “to take further steps towards a political solution and resolution of the problems,” acknowledging growing unrest and pressure from both the public and political allies. The move follows a government-imposed curfew, a sweeping ban on 26 social media platforms, and a nationwide clampdown on protests, which nevertheless escalated into violence across multiple cities, including Kathmandu.

The protests intensified over the past week, with demonstrators demanding accountability and Oli’s immediate removal. Protesters targeted government buildings and politicians’ residences, prompting the government to deploy security forces and impose emergency measures. Despite these efforts, public anger continued to mount, leading to the resignations of several senior cabinet members, including the interior minister on Monday and two additional ministers on Tuesday.

Oli, a veteran leader and head of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), had served multiple terms as prime minister. His resignation marks a significant turning point in Nepal’s political landscape, raising uncertainty over the formation of a new government and the restoration of stability.