With Sushila Karki in top post, people hope for stability, war on graft

KATHMANDU: Sushila Karki took over as Nepal's PM Friday, after two days of discussions and a public vote held by Gen Z group protesters, but the latter decided not to be a part of the interim dispensation.

Residents of Kathmandu TOI spoke to said the development had brought a "sense of relief". One of them, Niraj Lama, who runs a small hotel in Thamel, said, "It will soon usher stability. We hope for cleaner governance too."

Abiskar Chhetri, 27, said, "We are happy a person with proven integrity like Sushila Karki will lead the nation. The earlier gang of compromised leaders under Oli had to go."

"Congratulations! We wish you success, wish the country success," President Ramchandra Paudel said to Karki after the small swearing-in ceremony in the presidential palace, attended by diplomats and some former leaders. Karki, in a red sari dress, smiled, but did not make any speech.

Born on June 7, 1952 in Shankarpur town of Biratnagar metropolitan city, Karki completed her BA from Mahendra Morang College in Biratnagar at the age of 20, heading to BHU after that to complete a master's in political science in 1975. She returned to Nepal thereafter to study law at Tribhuvan University in 1978.

Karki started her career in 1979 before earning title of senior advocate in 2004. She went on to head Nepal's highest court, becoming first female chief justice of the country before retiring in June 2017. During her tenure, she was seen as a no-nonsense judge with "zero tolerance towards corruption". It was this, many said, endeared her to Gen Z protesters.

Her time as Nepal's chief justice was, however, marred somewhat when the then govt led by Sher Bahadur Deuba moved an impeachment motion against her. It led to public anger, eventually forcing state to recall the motion. Karki is married to senior Nepal Congress leader Durga Subedi.