Nepal PM Oli resigns as anti-corruption protests spiral

Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday in the face of massive anti-government protests rocking the country, officials said. The announcement came after protesters vandalised several vital offices including the Parliament building, residences of leaders and protests spread across other cities, continuing demonstrations that began after Monday’s crackdown on the Gen Z protests.

Gen Z protesters targeted the residences of political leaders and ministers in Kathmandu Valley and other districts, hurling stones and setting property on fire. The house of Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung in Lalitpur is set on fire by demonstrators. They also pelted stones at the Bhaisepati residence of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel. The house of former home minister Ramesh Lekhak, who resigned yesterday, was also attacked. Demonstrators approached the Budhanilkantha house of former prime minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, but were stopped. Protesters hurled stones at the Khumaltar residence of the CPN (Maoist Centre) chair, former PM and the main opposition leader, Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

#WATCH | Nepal: Protesters dance and celebrate as the private residence of former PM K.P. Sharma Oli, in Bhaktapur, burns. The Nepali PM resigned this afternoon amid demonstrations against the Government over alleged corruption.

(Video Source: TV Today Nepal) pic.twitter.com/d71H1bQ1KJ

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2025

Authorities have imposed curfews in different areas of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts. The order prohibits all movement, gatherings, rallies, processions, meetings and sit-ins within specified zones. Despite the restrictions, youths spontaneously gathered near the Parliament building in New Baneshwar. In Chandranigahapur municipality of Rautahat district of Madhesh Pradesh, protestors clashed with police and also set a police vehicle on fire.

Oli, who was serving his fourth term as prime minister since July 2024 with the backing of the Nepali Congress, had increasingly faced pressure following the bloodshed. Protesters and rights groups had blamed his administration for authorising lethal force against unarmed demonstrators. His resignation marks the end of a political career that saw him hold office in 2015–16, 2018– 21, briefly in 2021, and again from July 2024 until his exit on Tuesday,Oli had come to power on promises of stability and prosperity but left amid mounting unrest and accusations of authoritarianism.

Oli stepped down shortly after hundreds of demonstrators entered his office shouting anti-government slogans. Hours before his resignation, the demonstrators set on fire the Nepalese leader's private residence in Balkot demanding accountability for Monday's fatalities. At least 19 people were killed during the violent protests on Monday against the government's ban on social media sites. Following the protests, the government revoked the ban last night.