K. P. Sharma Oli: Nepal’s Influential Political Leader and Former Prime Minister

Introduction

Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, popularly known as K. P. Sharma Oli, is a seasoned politician in Nepal. As a leading figure in the country’s communist movement, he has served multiple terms as the Prime Minister. He is renowned for his bold leadership, economic initiatives, and strong political stances. Under his leadership, Nepal went through significant political transformations, and he remains one of the most prominent figures in the country’s contemporary political landscape. In his honor, Presenting the Biography of Biography Of K. P. Oli

Early Life

K. P. Sharma Oli was born on February 22, 1952, in a small village called Iwa in the Terhathum District of eastern Nepal. He was born into a modest farming family. His father’s name was Mohan Prasad, and his mother was Madhumaya Oli. But his mother passed away when he was just four years old. Hardship shaped his early childhood; he grew up in a rural environment.

His family migrated to Surunga, Jhapa, in 1958 and then sifted to Garamani, Jhapa, in 1962 because they lost their land in Surunga due to the Kankai River flooding.

Education

K.P. Oli attended school in his local village before moving to Jhapa. When he was 6, his parents migrated to Jhapa district, where he passed the SLC exam from Adarsha Secondary School in 1970. Then, he became actively involved in politics during his youth. In Jhapa, Oli was influenced by the anti-Panchayat and Naxalbari movements. While his formal education was cut short due to his deep involvement in political activism, his political knowledge and skills were honed during the years of struggle.

Political Career Beginnings

K. P. Oli entered the world of politics during the 1966 anti-Panchayat movement. He became a member of the Communist Party of Nepal and rose through its ranks. His political career accelerated in the early 1970s when he became heavily involved in the Jhapa Movement, a radical leftist campaign inspired by the Naxalite movement. As a result, he was imprisoned for 14 years, which solidified his commitment to his political ideology.

At that time, the Jhapa district was at the peak of the communist movement in Nepal. The center of anti-panchayat leaders started to be East Nepal or Jhapa district. The extreme trend of this left-wing activity also influenced KP Oli, who joined the left-wing rebellion at a young age.

In the year 1971, as an impress of the Naxalite movement in the Jhapa district, the communist leaders launched a violent movement, which is also known as the ‘Jhapa Rebellion’ in their political language. The then panchayat government arrested many leaders and put them in jail for participating in this Jhapa rebellion. In the murder charge of the same rebellion, K. P. Oli also fell and spent 14 years in prison from 1973 to 1987.

However, many people, including their political leader Ramnath Dahal, were killed or disappeared by the then government. Fortunately, KP survived the panchayat’s harsh action and became the country’s prime minister.

Leadership in the Communist Party

K. P. Oli was made a central committee member of the Madan Bhandari-led CPN (Marxist–Leninist) while in jail and, after his release in 1987, became actively involved in party activities.

In 1991, Oli became the founding central committee member of CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) after merging CPN (Marxist–Leninist) with CPN (Marxist). Next year, he became the founding chairman of the Democratic National Youth Federation In 1992.

He was elected as a Parliament member in the 1994 election from Jhapa 6 and became Home Minister in the minority government of Man Mohan Adhikari.

After winning several parliamentary elections, KP became the minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Then, he got the majority support of various parties, including the Maoists, and became the Prime Minister in 1915.

Following the merger of the two parties, CPN (UML) and Maoist, to form the Nepal Communist Party, he became co-chair of the new party along with Pushpa Kamal Dahal in 2018.

However, due to technical reasons and the court’s decision, the party’s merger was canceled, and even though the two parties were separated as previously, KP remained the chairman of his party.

Such K.P. Oli’s rise in the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) was swift. By the 1990s, after the restoration of democracy in Nepal, Oli had become a key figure within the CPN-UML. His leadership was instrumental in party consolidation and aligning communist policies with Nepal’s evolving democratic structure.

Prime Ministerial Tenures

K. P. Sharma Oli became the Prime Minister of Nepal in 2015, a critical year for the country as it was recovering from the devastating 2015 earthquake. During his first tenure, Oli initiated significant infrastructural projects and took a strong stance on national sovereignty, especially in Nepal’s foreign relations with India.

His appointment came during protests in the southern Terai demanding constitution revision. Meanwhile, India blockaded nepal unexpectedly and suddenly, but K.P. Oli stayed in his stand with sovereignty, and then he gained more popularity as a Nepali leader.

Oli’s most successful tenure as Prime Minister came in 2018, after the unification of the CPN-UML and the Maoist Centre into the Nepal Communist Party. Under his leadership, Nepal saw significant progress in infrastructural development, energy independence, and international diplomacy, particularly with China. One of his most notable achievements was solving Nepal’s long-standing power outage (load-shedding) crisis. Everyone in Nepal respects and appreciates the contribution of Kulman Ghising, the famous officer of the Nepal Electricity Authority, in making load shedding free in Nepal.

In May 2020, the Oli government released a new map of the country, including the disputed Kalapani, Lipulek, and Limpiyadhura, after India inaugurated the road through the Lipulek crossing. Nepal remapped the country’s map, adding this area. Nepal states it is its old land, which was missing and needs to be mapped. Prime Minister KP Oli played an active role in this work.

In July 2024, CPN (UML) suddenly withdrew its support from PM Prachanda’s government. This caused K. P. Oli to be appointed prime minister for a fourth stint on 14 July as part of a coalition with the Nepali Congress. Before that, Oli and Nepali Congress leader Deuba agreed on 1 July 2024 to form a rotational government, with the two-party chairs serving equal time as prime ministers.

Such a veteran politician of Nepal, K. P. Oli, again returned as Prime Minister in July 2024 and is currently serving his term, continuing to focus on national development and infrastructure and pushing forward his political vision for a prosperous Nepal.

Challenges and Controversies

Throughout his career, Oli faced numerous challenges and controversies. His political journey has seen accusations of authoritarianism, particularly during his second term when he dissolved parliament twice, triggering a major political crisis. Despite these controversies, Oli remains resilient in Nepal’s political landscape.

K. P. Oli has done a lot to establish a democratic system in Nepal. Whether it was the grief caused by his entry into politics at an early age or his 14 years in harsh prison life, the role he played throughout his life in the country’s political transformation and for people’s rights has been mentioned notably in Nepalese history.

Major Achievements

1. Ending Load-Shedding: Oli is credited with solving the years-long power crisis in Nepal, providing the country with uninterrupted electricity.
2. Foreign Relations: His tenure saw an unprecedented strengthening of ties with China, marked by trade agreements and infrastructure development, including transport links to Tibet.
3. Federalism and Constitution: Oli played a crucial role in implementing Nepal’s new federal structure and constitution post-2015.
4. Infrastructure Development: He launched multiple projects to improve Nepal’s roadways, airports, railways, and energy infrastructure, particularly hydroelectric power projects.

Leadership, Vision, and Criticism

Oli has consistently advocated for economic development, self-reliance, and national sovereignty. His foreign policy leaned towards reducing Nepal’s dependency on India by fostering closer relations with China and other international partners. He championed the idea of a “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali,” which became the cornerstone of his political agenda.

Although he has succeeded in establishing the image of a high figure in Nepali politics, being prime minister four times, he is also one of the most criticized political personalities in the Nepali public.
Outside his party, his popularity is not that noticeable. However, due to party influence, technical reasons, and his Power-oriented political policy, he succeeded in becoming prime minister four times.

It is felt that KP Oli’s speech, which was made with unnecessary assurances, has lost its popularity. He has assured the people of many things he could not have done, which promise has not been fulfilled even though he has reached the highest position four times. Apart from this, he would always shoot arrows at political opponents other than his supporters or his fans in a sweet style; it was not appropriate for a person in that position to do so, which led to his disbelief.

Personal and Family Life

Oli is married to Radhika Shakya, whom he met during his early political career. Shakya has been an integral part of his life and political journey. Despite his authoritative and sometimes controversial political image, Oli maintains a relatively private family life. He currently resides in Balkot, Bhaktapur, but also has a residence in Damak, Jhapa.

Legacy

His strong stance on nationalism defines K. P. Oli’s legacy, infrastructure development role, and efforts to transform Nepal into a self-reliant state. His tenure as Prime Minister is noted for restructuring Nepal’s political landscape, significant infrastructure projects, and diplomatic shifts towards China. Whether lauded or criticized, his impact on Nepalese politics is undeniable.

Summary

K. P. Sharma Oli remains one of Nepal’s most powerful and influential political figures. His journey from a small village in eastern Nepal to becoming the country’s Prime Minister, bold policies, and strong personality have left a lasting impact on the nation’s governance. As the chairman of CPN-UML and a repeated Prime Minister, Oli continues to play a critical role in shaping the political future of Nepal.

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