Sushila Karki: Nepal's First Female PM Selected On A Gen Z-Led Chat Room

From Nepal's first woman Chief Justice to the country's first female Prime Minister, Sushila Karki has had quite the journey. On September 12, the country's youth chose her as the interim PM amid deadly protests over corruption and nepotism. President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath in Kathmandu, in accordance with Article 61 of Nepal's Constitution.

Karki's appointment followed a week of intense youth-led protests that led to the resignation of K.P. Sharma Oli, who was serving a fourth term as PM, and the dissolution of parliament. 

According to reports, Nepal's Gen Z selected the new leader using the US-based app, Discord, amid a social media ban. About 5000 people participated in the online vote, reflecting widespread engagement from Nepal’s youth.

The other interim PM contenders included Kulman Ghising, an engineer known for solving Nepal's power crisis, and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, better known as Balen, a 35-year-old rapper-politician.

Who is Sushila Karki?

Sushila Karki (73) studied at Banaras Hindu University in India's Uttar Pradesh. She began her legal career as an advocate in Biratnagar in 1979 and became the Chief Justice of Nepal in 2016.

Karki delivered landmark judgments and high-profile corruption convictions, including that of then-Information Technology minister Jay Prakash Gupta in 2012, the first time a sitting minister in Nepal was jailed for graft.

During her time on the bench, she was known for her stance against corruption. In 2017, she voluntarily resigned after facing an impeachment motion, which was later withdrawn dew to political outcry.

India connection

Sushila Karki speaks fondly of her memories in India's Varanasi, noting that it was not only where she earned her degree but also where she learned to dance.

Karki also said that BHU provided her with an academic foundation and opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. She shared that she was once offered the chance to teach at BHU and pursue a PhD there.

Speaking of the bilateral relationship with India, Karki said, "First, I will say namaskaarto Modi ji… There is such a good relationship between the people of Nepal and the people of India… We have so much goodwill, love," she told the TV channelNews18.