Kathmandu, Sept 10 – Nepal’s Gen-Z protest leaders remained divided over who should lead the interim government, even as the Nepal Army assumed responsibility for maintaining law and order following violent protests that rocked Kathmandu on Tuesday, forcing Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign.
The Army has invited Gen-Z representatives for dialogue, but internal discussions among the youth-led movement have yet to produce consensus on a neutral, apolitical figure to lead the country through the transitional phase.
Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, known for her firm stance on judicial independence, has emerged as a strong contender, along with Kul Man Ghising, the former Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, and Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang. All three have public support, but no agreement has been reached.
Rabi Kiran Hamal, a Gen-Z leader allegedly linked to the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party, expressed a preference for a Gen-Z representative to head the new government. Meanwhile, Mayor Balen Shah, once a frontrunner, is no longer being considered, according to Gen-Z leader K.P. Khanal.
Amid this uncertainty, over 13,500 inmates and 500 detainees reportedly escaped from custody during the protests, Nepal Police confirmed. Despite this, law and order were largely restored by Wednesday evening.
The Nepali Congress has called for constitutional adherence under the “doctrine of necessity,” warning against lawlessness and urging both the President and Gen-Z to prevent a prolonged power vacuum.
Tribhuvan International Airport has resumed operations, and the Nepal Tourism Board has advised foreign visitors to confirm travel details with airlines.
Nepal now faces a critical juncture, balancing public pressure for reform with the urgent need for constitutional legitimacy.
