KP Sharma Oli was sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal on Monday. His Communist Party formed a coalition government with the centre-left Nepali Congress. This changed the balance of power in the country's often unstable parliament.

The 72-year-old Oli heads the second-largest party in parliament, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML).

He took charge as the Prime Minister of the country for the fourth time. The country of about 30 million people is influenced by neighboring India and China. Oli had previously struck a delicate balance between the rivals. While maintaining cordial relations towards the two neighbours, he has been close to Beijing to reduce his country's dependence on New Delhi.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Oli in a statement on Monday, saying he wanted to "strengthen the deep bond of friendship between our two countries".

As President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath, Oli said, "I, KP Sharma Oli, pledge in the name of the country and the people, that I will remain faithful to the Constitution...and fulfill my duties as Prime Minister."

Oli was first elected as Prime Minister in 2015. Birla was re-elected with a rare majority government in 2018 and then briefly re-elected in 2021.

His predecessor and former coalition government ally Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost power on Friday after losing a confidence vote in parliament just 18 months after taking office. Oli was forced to resign after his party withdrew support. Oli instead struck a deal with Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress.

Oli's political career spans nearly six decades. The veteran politician has undergone two kidney transplants.

He was born in 1952 in Tehrathum district of Nepal near the eastern border with India. He was in jail for 14 years. After his release in 1987, he joined the CPN-UML and rose to party rank by winning the parliamentary elections.
Nepal's next general election is scheduled to be held in 2027.

Source: AFP