Sushila Karki takes oath as Nepal's PM. Photo: X/Screengrab.
President Ramchandra Poudel on Saturday urged all sides to cooperate in conducting a fresh poll to elect the House of Representatives on March 5.
The Himalayan nation witnessed a massive political turmoil over the past few days when violent protests against the social media ban soon spiralled into an anti-corruption demonstration, leading to the toppling of ex-PM KP Sharma Oli-led government.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the President said that despite the nation's recent turmoil, "the constitution, parliamentary system and federal democratic republic have been preserved", reported The Himalayan Times.
He asked all stakeholders to maintain calm and support the interim government in completing their tenure until the election is held.
Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in on Thursday as the interim Prime Minister of Nepal, becoming the country’s first woman to hold the post after days of violent protest and turbulence.
The ceremony took place at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Kathmandu, capping days of political speculation and intense negotiations.
The oath was administered by President Ram Chandra Paudel in the presence of Vice President Ram Sahay Yadav and Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Rawat.
Who is Sushila Karki?
Sushila Karki, 71, made history as Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice. Known for her zero-tolerance stance on corruption, she is widely respected in legal and civil society circles.
She completed her BA at Mahendra Morang Campus and an MA in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University before earning a law degree at Tribhuvan University.
Initially a lecturer, she shifted to a career in law, rising to become a senior advocate before her appointment as Chief Justice in July 2016.
During her tenure, she presided over high-profile anti-corruption cases, including the conviction of former Information Minister Jaiprakash Prasad Gupta and a landmark ruling against Lokman Singh Karki, the former chief of the CIAA.
In 2017, she faced an impeachment motion brought by the Maoist-led government, widely viewed as politically motivated. The attempt was withdrawn after intense public backlash.