K P Sharma Oli

The Right Honourable Mr. K P Sharma Oli is the 45th Prime Minister of Nepal and the President of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML). He assumed office on 15 July 2024, marking his third term as Prime Minister. His previous tenures were from 11 October 2015 to 24 July 2016 and from 15 February 2018 to 13 July 2021.

Born on 23 February 1952 in the Terhathum District of Eastern Nepal, Prime Minister Oli was raised in a lower-middle-income family. His early years were marked by a profound sense of enthusiasm and creativity, which eventually led him to embark on a political career at a young age. In February 1970, he became a full-time activist and joined the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN). His political activism led to numerous arrests under false charges, resulting in 14 consecutive years in prison, including four years in solitary confinement from 1973 to 1987.

Following his release, Mr. Oli rose through the ranks of the then Communist Party of Nepal (M-L), becoming a Central Committee member and serving as the in-charge of the Lumbini Zone until 1990. He also founded and served as the first President of the Democratic National Youth Federation (DNYF), the youth wing of the party.

His parliamentary career commenced in 1991, shortly after the restoration of the multiparty system in Nepal, when he was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1993, he became the chief of the Central Department of International Affairs of CPN (UML), and in 1994, he was elected to the Politburo and appointed Chief of the Central Department of Publicity. The same year, he was re-elected to the House of Representatives and appointed Minister for Home Affairs in Nepal's first popularly elected Communist Party-led government. Mr. Oli was re-elected for a third consecutive term in 1999 and served as Chief of the Department of Parliamentary Affairs of CPN (UML) from 1995 to 2008. He also held the position of Deputy Leader of the Main Opposition Party in Parliament from 1999 to 2002.

From April 2006 to March 2007, Mr. Oli served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the interim government. In 2013, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly (CA) and subsequently elected as the leader of the party in the CA and legislature-parliament on 4 February 2014. His leadership within the party was further solidified when he was elected as the President of the Party on 17 July 2014, during the 9th National Congress.

Mr. Oli's political ascent is rooted in his involvement in the Jhapa uprising and his steadfast participation in a vigorous underground struggle. His leadership is characterised by an unwavering commitment to patriotism, democracy, social justice, and equality. He has successfully shifted the political discourse from the struggle for rights to the pursuit of national development and economic prosperity for the people of Nepal. A firm believer in comprehensive democracy, Mr Oli advocates for a system that guarantees equal rights, access to opportunities, social justice, security and dignity for all. During his tenures, he introduced a contribution-based social security system for all working people and implemented a universal social security plan for both the young and the elderly.

Prime Minister Oli is the visionary architect behind Nepal’s national aspiration: "Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali." Under his leadership, the nation's social and political agenda has focused on strengthening the economy, developing infrastructure, and revitalising its rich cultural heritage. Notable initiatives under his government include the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernisation Programme and the Prime Minister's Employment Programme. His government has also taken decisive action to combat sexual violence against women and girls and has prioritised addressing the challenges posed by climate change, particularly by protecting vulnerable communities in mountainous regions and promoting environmental sustainability.

Source: Office of the Prime Minister of Nepal, August 2024