KP Sharma Oli, a veteran politician, has been sworn in as the Prime Minister of Nepal for a fourth time. The ceremony took place on Monday at the President’s office in Kathmandu, amid a special function. President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office after finalizing Oli’s appointment on Sunday.
This appointment comes after the former Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, failed to secure a majority in parliament. Dahal lost the floor test in the House of Representatives, leading to a shift in alliances. The Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (UML), who had previously withdrawn their support for Dahal, came together to support Oli’s candidacy.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi quickly extended his congratulations to Oli, expressing his hope for stronger India-Nepal ties. “Congratulations @kpsharmaoli on your appointment as the Prime Minister of Nepal,” PM Modi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Look forward to working closely to further strengthen the deep bonds of friendship between our two countries and to further expand our mutually beneficial cooperation for the progress and prosperity of our peoples,” he added.
Oli’s previous administration was known for its strong relationship with India. In contrast, Dahal was perceived as having closer ties to China. The shifting alliances and the appointment of Oli as Prime Minister are likely to have significant implications for regional politics and the dynamics between India and Nepal.
The President invited the UML and NC to form a new government under Article 76 (2) of the constitution, following Dahal’s failure to secure a majority. Oli submitted signatures of 166 lawmakers in his support to the president, securing the minimum number needed to form a government in the 275-strong House of Representatives.
