KP Sharma Oli

{{politics}}
'''Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli''' (born February 22, 1952) is a [[Nepali]] [[politician]] and the current [[Prime Minister]] of [[Nepal]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Khadga Prasad Oli | website=World Economic Forum | url=https://www.weforum.org/people/khadga-prasad-oli/ | access-date=}}</ref> He is also leading the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) CPN-UML. <ref>{{cite web | title=Leader of Nepal’s Largest Communist Party Named New Prime Minister | website=Al Jazeera | date=July 14, 2024 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/14/leader-of-nepals-largest-communist-party-named-new-prime-minister | access-date=}}</ref> He has served as the [[Prime Minister]] of [[Nepal]] on multiple occasions, most notably from 2015 to 2016 and again from 2018 to 2021. He is known for his fiery rhetoric, [[nationalist]] stance, and penchant for making statements that range from the bizarre to the outright controversial. His political career has been marked by a mix of populism, ideological flip-flopping, and a knack for surviving political crises that would have ended lesser careers. <ref>{{cite web | title=K.P. Sharma Oli Appointed Nepal’s New Prime Minister | website=The Hindu | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/k-p-sharma-oli-appointed-nepals-new-prime-minister/article68403219.ece | access-date=}}</ref>

==Early Life==
Oli was born in Terhathum District, [[Nepal]]. He grew up in a modest family. He joined the communist movement in his youth. He was inspired by the revolutionary fervor of the time. Like many of his contemporaries, Oli cut his teeth in the underground [[communist]] movement, which was illegal in [[Nepal]] until the 1990s. He spent over a decade in prison for his political activities, which only solidified his reputation as a committed [[communist]] or at least someone who could endure hardship for the cause.<ref>{{cite web | title=KP Sharma Oli’s Journey: From Spending 14 Years in Prison to Becoming Nepal’s Prime Minister | website=WION | url=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kp-sharma-olis-journey-from-spending-14-years-in-prison-to-becoming-nepals-prime-minister-313289 | access-date=}}</ref>

==Political Career==
Oli rose through the ranks of the CPN-UML, becoming a key figure in Nepali politics. His first stint as [[Prime Minister]] came in 2015, following the devastating earthquake that shook [[Nepal]]. His government was tasked with overseeing reconstruction efforts, but his tenure was marred by allegations of inefficiency and corruption. He also played a significant role in drafting Nepal's new constitution, which was criticized for failing to adequately address the concerns of marginalized groups, particularly the Madhesi and Tharu communities. <ref>{{cite web | title=President Appoints KP Sharma Oli Prime Minister | website=The Kathmandu Post | date=July 14, 2024 | url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2024/07/14/president-appoints-kp-sharma-oli-prime-minister | access-date=}}</ref>

His second term as Prime Minister (2018–2021) was even more tumultuous. He came to power on the back of a leftist alliance between the CPN-UML and the Maoist Centre, which promised stability and development. <ref>{{cite web | title=How KP Oli Failed the Nation | website=The Kathmandu Post | date=July 6, 2020 | url=https://kathmandupost.com/columns/2020/07/06/how-kp-oli-failed-the-nation | access-date=}}</ref> Instead, Oli's government was marked by infighting, authoritarian tendencies, and a series of eyebrow-raising statements. For example, he once claimed that COVID-19 could be cured by drinking warm water and gargling with guava leaves, earning him both ridicule and concern from the scientific community.

==Nationalism and Geopolitical Balancing Act==
A careful balancing act between [[China]] and [[India]], [[Nepal]]'s two enormous neighbors, has characterized Oli's term.  Despite Nepal's longstanding close relations with [[India]], he has been leaning more and more toward [[China]] to get [[political]] and economic assistance.  Critics contend that this change is more about ensuring his political survival than it is about the interests of the country. <ref>{{cite web | title=How KP Sharma Oli’s New Government Will Impact Indo-Nepal Ties | website=CNBC TV18 | url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/how-kp-sharma-oli-new-government-will-impact-indo-nepal-ties-19443257.htm | access-date=}}</ref>  However, by using Nepal's advantageous location to pressure both sides into making compromises, he has been able to establish himself as a major actor in the geopolitical dynamics of the area. <ref>{{cite web | title=Oli’s Fraying Foreign Policy | website=Record Nepal | url=https://www.recordnepal.com/olis-fraying-foreign-policy | access-date=}}</ref>

== Stance Against India and the Blockade==
One of the defining moments of Oli's political career came during the 2015-2016 [[Indian]] blockade of [[Nepal]]. The blockade was imposed in the wake of Nepal's new constitution, which [[India]] claimed did not adequately address the concerns of the Madhesi community, who share cultural and familial ties with [[India]]. The blockade led to severe shortages of essential supplies, including fuel and [[medicine]], crippling Nepal's [[economy]] and daily life. <ref>{{cite web | title=Nepal’s PM K.P. Sharma Oli Slams India for Stand at UN, Blockade | website=The Indian Express | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/nepals-pm-k-p-sharma-oli-slams-india-for-stand-at-un-blockade/ | access-date=}}</ref>

His response to the blockade was marked by a strong [[nationalist]] stance. He accused [[India]] of interfering in Nepal's internal affairs and violating its sovereignty. This period saw a surge in anti-Indian sentiment in [[Nepal]], with Oli positioning himself as a defender of national pride. He sought to reduce Nepal's dependence on India by strengthening ties with [[China]], signing trade and transit agreements that allowed Nepal access to Chinese ports. While this move was praised by some as a bold step toward diversification, others criticized it as a hasty and politically motivated decision that failed to address the root causes of Nepal's vulnerability. <ref>{{cite web | title=Indian Blockade More Inhuman Than War, Says Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli | website=The Times of India | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indian-blockade-more-inhuman-than-war-says-nepal-pm-kp-sharma-oli/articleshow/49690974.cms | access-date=}}</ref>

==New map controversy==
In 2020, Oli's government unveiled a new political map of [[Nepal]] that included the disputed territories of Lipulek, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura, which are also claimed by [[India]]. The move was a response to India's publication of a map in 2019 that showed these areas as part of its territory. The inclusion of these territories in Nepal's map was seen as a bold assertion of sovereignty, but it also escalated tensions with [[India]]. <ref>{{cite web | title=I Was Removed from Office After Publishing Map Including Kalapani: Former Nepal PM Oli | website=The Economic Times | url=https://economictimes.com/news/india/i-was-removed-from-office-after-publishing-map-including-kalapani-former-nepal-pm-oli/articleshow/93304880.cms | access-date=}}</ref>

The new map was unanimously approved by Nepal's parliament, with Oli framing it as a matter of national unity and pride. However, critics argued that the move was more about diverting attention from domestic issues, including Oli's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and internal party conflicts. The controversy also highlighted the limitations of Nepal's diplomatic leverage, as [[India]] dismissed the new map as "artificial enlargement" and refused to engage in meaningful dialogue. <ref>{{cite web | title=New Nepal Map Heightens Land Dispute with India | website=Al Jazeera | date=May 20, 2020 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/5/20/new-nepal-map-heightens-land-dispute-with-india | access-date=}}</ref>

== Controversies and Criticisms==
Oli is no stranger to controversy. His tenure has been marked by accusations of authoritarianism, corruption, and a lack of transparency. His handling of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], in particular, drew widespread criticism for being ineffective and riddled with [[pseudoscientific]] claims. For instance, his suggestion that warm water and guava leaves could cure COVID-19 was widely mocked and raised concerns about the government's approach to public health. <ref>{{cite web | title=Oli Continues to Downplay COVID-19 and Propagate Home Remedies, Earning Ridicule on Social Media | website=The Kathmandu Post | date=June 19, 2020 | url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2020/06/19/oli-continues-to-downplay-covid-19-and-propagate-home-remedies-earning-ridicule-on-social-media | access-date=}}</ref>

Additionally, his government has been accused of suppressing dissent and undermining democratic institutions. Critics point to his attempts to dissolve parliament in 2020, which were seen as a move to consolidate power and avoid a no-confidence vote. The Supreme Court ultimately overturned his decision, but the episode raised serious concerns about the state of [[democracy]] in [[Nepal]] under his leadership. <ref>{{cite web | title=Nepal’s Supreme Court Reinstates Parliament, Orders New PM Be Appointed | website=Reuters | date=July 12, 2021 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nepals-supreme-court-reinstates-parliament-orders-new-pm-be-appointed-2021-07-12/ | access-date=}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External Links==
* [https://www.opmcm.gov.np/ Prime Minister of Nepal]
* [https://kpsharmaoli.com/ KP Sharma Oli: Official Website]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Asian politicians]]
[[Category:Communism]]
[[Category:Nepali politicians]]
[[Category:Prime Ministers of Nepal]]

Categories: Living people, Asian politicians, Communism, Nepali politicians, Prime Ministers of Nepal