Kathmandu, Sept 13 – In a historic moment, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has been sworn in as the 42nd Prime Minister of Nepal, becoming the country’s first woman to hold the position. The oath-taking ceremony, originally scheduled for 9:00 p.m., began after a short delay at the President’s official office in Sheetalniwas, Baluwatar.
The ceremony was attended by high-level dignitaries, including Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, ambassadors from the U.S. and China, but notably absent was the Indian ambassador. Among political figures, only former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai was present. Also in attendance were Sudan Gurung, representing the Gen Z movement, along with his Hami Nepal team.
Also read: Sudan Gurung Emerges as Gen Z’s Voice: “We Asked for Change, Not Bullets”
Sushila Karki was accompanied by her husband, Durga Prasad Subedi, during the oath. President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office in secrecy, invoking his special constitutional authority under Article 61 of the Constitution, as Karki is not a sitting member of the House of Representatives.
With this, Karki, Nepal’s first female Chief Justice, has now also become its first female Prime Minister. Importantly, she has not been appointed as an “interim prime minister” but as a full-fledged Prime Minister, vested with all constitutional powers. Her mandate includes holding a fresh parliamentary election within six months.
Following her swearing-in, Karki assumed office immediately, taking charge of all ministerial portfolios herself until a new cabinet is formed. She also signed her first official decision as Prime Minister on Friday night.
Parliament Dissolved, New Election Announced
In a major political development, the House of Representatives has been dissolved, effective 11:00 p.m. Friday, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Karki. The Office of the President issued a press release confirming that the next parliamentary elections are scheduled for March 5, 2026.
This marks a decisive political shift, as Karki takes office with both historic significance and the responsibility of leading Nepal toward elections within the stipulated timeframe.
