Kulman Ghising, the former CEO of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has emerged as a leading contender for the role of interim Prime Minister of Nepal, following the resignation of KP Sharma Oli amid massive protests. On Thursday, just two days after Oli stepped down, the Gen Z-led protest movement reportedly considered Ghising, alongside former Chief Justice Sushila Karki and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, to head an interim government.
Ghising is widely celebrated for ending years of chronic load-shedding in Nepal, transforming the country’s power sector and earning national acclaim. An electrical engineer by training, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the Regional Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, India, and later completed a master’s in power systems engineering from the Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
He joined NEA in 1994 and steadily climbed the ranks, eventually becoming managing director in 2016. During his tenure, Ghising eliminated the 18-hour daily power cuts that had plagued Nepal for decades, making him a household name. Though he was removed from his post in 2020, he returned in 2021, continuing his work on improving the nation’s electricity infrastructure.
In March 2025, just months before his tenure was set to end, the KP Sharma Oli government removed Ghising from his position and replaced him with Hitendra Dev Shakya. His dismissal sparked widespread criticism from opposition parties, civil society, and citizens, many of whom viewed the move as politically motivated rather than performance-based.
Now, as Nepal navigates political uncertainty and civil unrest, Ghising’s reputation as a pragmatic reformer and technocrat has propelled him to the forefront of discussions for interim leadership. His ability to deliver tangible results in the electricity sector is seen as a key asset in restoring public trust and stabilizing governance during this transitional period.