India is dedicated to the peace and development of the Himalayan country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday as he congratulated Sushila Karki on her appointment as the prime minister of Nepal’s interim administration.
Late Friday night, 73-year-old Sushila Karki took the oath of office as Nepal’s acting prime minister, making history as the country’s first female prime minister.
Karki, who is also Nepal’s first female head Justice, was sworn in by President Ram Chandra Poudel, who spent the day consulting with the Army head, constitutional experts, and Gen-Z protest leaders.
“I offer my warmest regards to Right Hon. Mrs. Sushila Karki on her appointment as Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal,” PM Modi wrote in a post on X. India is unwaveringly dedicated to the peace, development, and well-being of the Nepalese people.
India expressed confidence that the political shift will promote peace and stability earlier in the day when it welcomed the establishment of a new temporary government in Nepal led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reaffirmed its commitment to fortifying relations with Kathmandu amid this transitional phase in a statement.
“The Right Honourable Mrs. Sushila Karki has formed a new interim government in Nepal, which we applaud. The MEA expressed optimism that this will contribute to the promotion of peace and stability.
According to the ministry, “As a close neighbour, a fellow democracy and a long-term development partner, India will continue to work closely with Nepal for the well-being and prosperity of our two peoples and countries.”
Karki was the favorite of activists who took to the streets to protest against K.P. Sharma Oli’s administration after the government was overthrown by the violent Gen-Z demonstrations on Monday.
The topic of dissolving the lower chamber, the chamber of Representatives, either before or after the inauguration of the new prime minister was discussed in length with Gen-Z demonstrators and other interested parties.
Even though a number of non-political candidates were proposed as alternatives, Gen-Z demonstrators decided on Karki’s name, which cleared the path for her appointment as prime minister.
However, no clause in the constitution permits someone who is not a member of the House of Representatives to occupy the position. Karki was chosen based on the “principle of necessity”.
The Constitution of Nepal states in Article 76 that the only person who can become prime minister is a member of the House of Representatives. Even members of the National Assembly, the upper chamber of Parliament, are ineligible to hold the position, therefore Karki is disqualified under this condition.
She is also barred from becoming prime minister by Article 132(2) of the Constitution. It declares that, unless the Constitution specifies otherwise, no one who has previously served as Chief Justice or a Supreme Court judge may be appointed to any position in the government.
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