A group of Gen Z protesters on Thursday proposed former Nepal Electricity Authority Executive Chief Kulman Ghising as the new head of the interim government. The group opposed the nomination of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki, arguing that her appointment would make it difficult to reach a consensus, signalling a rift within the protesters.
Earlier, thousands of Gen Z supporters had voted in favor of Karki for the post. However, she faces legal hurdles, as the constitution reportedly bars former Chief Justices from becoming prime minister. Another popular candidate, Bolendra Sah, has also declined interest.
In a statement, the Gen Z group said Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Sah was the most qualified candidate for the post, but he declined to accept it. The discussions then shifted to former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, whose candidacy was disqualified as former chief justices and judges are ineligible for appointment as prime minister.
“Since Bolendra Sah has not shown interest, Hark Sampang (mayor of Dharan Municipality) has little chance of leading everyone, and Sushila Karki is incompetent and over 70 years of age, it has been decided to send Engineer Kulman Ghising, a patriotic person who is loved by everyone, to lead the interim government,” the statement said.
Ghising, 54, is widely known for ending the country’s long-standing power outage crisis, which had subjected the nation to power cuts of up to 18 hours per day for decades. He studied electrical engineering on a full scholarship at the Regional Institute of Technology in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur.
A wave of youth-led protests, branded the ‘Gen Z uprising,’ swept across Nepal on Monday, triggering violent clashes with security forces and culminating in the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday.
What began as outrage over a government ban on several social media platforms has since swelled into a nationwide movement against corruption, nepotism, and the lack of economic opportunities for young people.
The unrest erupted after authorities blocked access to 26 social media sites, including Facebook, X, and YouTube, on the grounds that they had failed to register with local regulators. The decision, widely viewed as an assault on free expression, sparked massive public anger. Thousands of young demonstrators poured into the streets of Kathmandu and other cities, waving national flags and chanting anti-government slogans.
The protests soon turned deadly as security forces cracked down with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition. At least 34 protesters were killed, and more than 1,000 others were injured in the clashes.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress, the largest party in the House of Representatives, General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma issued a joint statement, saying they are ready to cooperate with the Gen Z group. However, they emphasised that any decision must follow the constitutional and legal process.
Intense discussions are underway at the Army Headquarters in Kathmandu, with Sushila Karki and pro-monarchy activist Durga Prasai in attendance on Thursday.
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