KATHMANDU, Oct 12: A month after former Chief Justice Sushila Karki assumed leadership of the interim government following the historic Gen Z movement of September 8 and 9, signs of political drift and administrative paralysis are beginning to show. Once known for her decisiveness and integrity on the bench as the chief justice, Karki is seen faltering with indifference from political parties, and growing disunity among the Gen Z leaders themselves.
As Nepal stands at a political crossroads, analysts say that the call for elections — scheduled for March 5 — remains the only viable way to restore stability. Yet, Karki’s government has struggled to bring major political parties on board. Despite being appointed with a clear mandate to hold elections and stabilize the country after the youth-led uprising, her administration appears increasingly indecisive.
The Gen Z protests, driven by demands for good governance and digital freedom, forced the resignation of then–Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The movement, however, came at a high cost: 76 people were killed, and key state institutions including Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court, and the House of Representatives were vandalized and set ablaze.
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Upon taking office, Prime Minister Karki dissolved the House of Representative and recommended the election date of March 5, later endorsed by President Ram Chandra Poudel. She swiftly formed a three-member cabinet of technocrats and began her tenure with symbolic gestures — declaring the victims of the Gen Z movement as martyrs, announcing Rs 1.5 million in compensation for their families, among others.
So far the government has amended the Voter List Act, issued an ordinance to expedite registration, a swift step that Karki had hoped for smoothly holding the elections. The Election Commission, following the government’s directive, has opened voter registration until November 16 and set the political party registration period between October 18 and 27. Campaigning will run from February 3 to March 2, with voting on March 5. However, controversy erupted after the Commission published the election schedule without consulting political parties — a move that has further isolated Karki from the mainstream political establishment.
President Poudel has since stepped in, initiating talks with party leaders and meeting Karki and her ministers to bridge the communication gap. Sources say Karki’s reluctance to engage directly with leaders of the dissolved parliament has frustrated efforts to build consensus ahead of the polls.
Moreover, the growing rivalry between PM Karki and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has further clouded the political landscape. Oli has repeatedly called Karki’s government “unconstitutional” and has not yet confirmed his party’s participation in the upcoming elections — a move that threatens to undermine the legitimacy of the democratic process.
Adding to her challenges, internal divisions within the Gen Z movement — the very force that catapulted Karki to power — have begun to surface. Several youth activists have accused the government of ignoring their voices and selecting ministers without proper consultation. The dispute intensified after the government announced plans to induct four individuals — Ramji Ram, Ganapati Lal Shrestha, Bablu Gupta, and Tashi Lhazom — as Gen Z representatives in the cabinet.
Prominent activist Miraj Dhungana questioned the government’s decision, asking, “Who among these people is Gen Z, and which Gen Z group recommended them?” His remarks reflect broader frustration within the movement, where factions are increasingly divided between those willing to collaborate with the government and those who accuse it of hijacking the movement’s ideals.
Answering the Gen Z queries, PM Karki during an interaction on Saturday had to defend herself by saying that ‘the government was not formed by the mandate of INGO’.
With the mainstream parties skeptical, the Gen Z leadership fragmented, and government’s inaction, analysts say Karki faces an uphill battle to deliver on her mandate. They further warned that Nepal’s fragile transition may slip further into uncertainty unless she can restore confidence among both political actors and the public.
