KP Sharma Oli Becomes Prime Minister of Nepal for the Fourth Time

Kathmandu, Nepal – KP Sharma Oli, the Chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), was appointed as the Prime Minister of Nepal for the fourth time on Monday. The appointment was made by President Ram Chandra Paudel at the President’s office in Sheetal Niwas, following Article 76(2) of Nepal’s constitution.

After taking the oath, Prime Minister Oli inducted 21 ministers into his cabinet, including two Deputy Prime Ministers, Prakash Man Singh and Bishnu Paudel. Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba had jointly signed an application for the President to appoint Oli as the new Prime Minister, following the results of the vote of confidence.

Oli, with the support of the Nepali Congress and smaller parties, submitted signatures of 165 lawmakers, claiming majority support in the parliament. The new cabinet includes members from the Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP). Other smaller parties are also expected to join the cabinet.

The Constitution of Nepal requires the Prime Minister to secure a majority of 138 out of 275 seats in the House of Representatives. The Nepali Congress and CPN-UML had previously agreed to divide 9 and 8 ministries respectively, and to lead the government on a rotational basis until the next general elections in 2027.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India congratulated Oli on his appointment, expressing his eagerness to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Oli has previously served as Prime Minister of Nepal three times: first on October 12, 2015, then on February 15, 2018, and again in 2021.