Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his congratulations to Sushila Karki on becoming Nepal’s interim Prime Minister. In a post on X, Modi said India remained fully committed to the peace, progress and prosperity of the Himalayan neighbour.
Karki, 73, was sworn in on Friday evening, becoming the first woman in Nepal’s history to assume the role of Prime Minister. She had earlier scripted history as the country’s first female Chief Justice. President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath after day-long consultations with Gen-Z protest leaders, constitutional experts and the army chief.
“I extend my best wishes to Right Hon. Mrs. Sushila Karki on assuming office as the Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal. India remains firmly committed to the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal,” Modi wrote.
Her elevation comes in the backdrop of widespread youth-led protests that forced the resignation of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Violent demonstrations across Nepal, driven largely by Gen-Z activists, created a political vacuum that eventually saw Karki emerging as the consensus choice.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs also welcomed the new interim administration, expressing hope that the transition would stabilise Nepal’s politics. “As a close neighbour, a fellow democracy and a long-term development partner, India will continue to work closely with Nepal,” the MEA said.
Karki’s appointment is seen as a watershed in Nepal’s politics, both for gender representation and for the country’s fragile democratic journey.