Ministerial offices


Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal
In office 2006–2007 Serving with Amik Sherchan
Prime Minister	Girija Prasad Koirala
Preceded by	Bharat Mohan Adhikari
Succeeded by	Bamdev Gautam
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 2006–2007
Prime Minister	Girija Prasad Koirala
Preceded by	Ramesh Nath Pandey
Succeeded by	Sahana Pradhan
Minister of Home Affairs
In office 1994–1995
Prime Minister	Man Mohan Adhikari
Preceded by	Sher Bahadur Deuba
Succeeded by	Khum Bahadur Khadka

Senior party positions

Chairman of CPN (UML)
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 March 2021
Preceded by	Position established (Party revived as per a Supreme Court verdict)
In office 2014–2018
Preceded by	Jhala Nath Khanal
Succeeded by	Position abolished (himself as chairman of the Nepal Communist Party)
Chairman of the Nepal Communist Party
In office 17 May 2018 – 8 March 2021 Serving with Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Preceded by	Position established (New party)
Succeeded by	Position abolished (Party dissolved as per a Supreme Court verdict)

Parliamentary offices


Member of Parliament, Pratinidhi Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 March 2018
Preceded by	Keshav Kumar Budhathoki (as member of the Legislature Parliament)
Constituency	Jhapa 5
In office 1999–2008
Preceded by	Chandra Prakash Mainali
Succeeded by	Gauri Shankar Khadka (as member of the 1st Constituent Assembly)
Constituency	Jhapa 2
In office 1991–1999
Preceded by	Constituency created
Succeeded by	Gopal Prasad Koirala
Constituency	Jhapa 6
Member of the Constituent Assembly / Legislature Parliament
In office 21 January 2014 – 14 October 2017
Preceded by	Bishwodip Lingden Limbu
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Constituency	Jhapa 7

Personal details

Born

Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli

22 February 1952 (age 73)
Iwa, Kingdom of Nepal

Political party

CPN (UML) (1991–2018; 2021–present)

Other political
affiliations

CPN (ML) (1978–1991)
NCP (2018–2021)

Spouse

Radhika Shakya

(m. 1987)

Parents

Mohan Prasad Oli
Madhumaya Oli

Signature

Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli (Nepali: खड्ग प्रसाद शर्मा ओली), known as K. P. Sharma Oli or K.P. Oli, is a well-known Nepalese politician. He was born on 22 February 1952, in Iwa, Nepal. He is currently serving as the Prime Minister of Nepal since 15 July 2024.

Oli is also the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), a major political party, a role he has held since 2014. He has served as Prime Minister three times before: from 2015 to 2016, and twice in 2018 and 2021. He is a Member of Parliament for Jhapa 5.

During his time as Prime Minister, Oli worked to improve Nepal's connections with China. This was an alternative to Nepal's traditional trade ties with India. He also updated Nepal's map to include areas that are disputed with India. This action made him popular with some people in Nepal who saw him as a nationalist.

Growing Up and School
Starting His Political Journey
- Early Years (1970–1991)
- Entering Parliament (1991–2015)
Becoming Prime Minister
Political Views
- Nepal's Relations with India
- Views on Government
Election Results
Personal Life
- Health
See also

Growing Up and School

K.P. Sharma Oli was born on 22 February 1952, in a place called Iwa in Tehrathum. His father, Mohan Prasad Oli, was a farmer. When Oli was only four years old, his mother, Madhumaya Oli, sadly passed away from smallpox.

He later had a younger brother and three younger sisters from his father's second marriage. Oli went to Pranami Middle School for his early education. In 1958, his family moved to Surungwa, Jhapa. However, floods from the Kankai river destroyed their land, and they lost everything. Oli then went to live with his grandparents.

His family moved again in 1962, this time to Garamani, Jhapa. He finished his high school exams (called SLC in Nepal) from Adarsha Secondary School in 1970. While in Jhapa, Oli became interested in political movements that were against the government at the time. He says his distant uncle, Ramnath Dahal, helped him develop his interest in communist ideas.

Starting His Political Journey

Early Years (1970–1991)

In 1970, when he was 18, Oli joined a communist political group. He was arrested that same year for his involvement in political activities. His group later joined a larger communist party.

In 1972, he became a secretary for a committee that was part of a youth movement for political change in Jhapa. Oli believed in growing the movement peacefully and getting more public support. However, some members of the committee wanted to use armed struggle. In February 1973, he was removed from his role. The next month, Ramnath Dahal, his uncle who inspired him, was killed by the government.

After this, Oli went into hiding. He was arrested in October 1973 and stayed in prison until 1987. He spent 14 years in different prisons, including four years in solitary confinement. While in jail, he became a central committee member of the CPN (Marxist–Leninist). After his release in 1987, he became very active in party work.

Oli at a party meeting in 1996

Entering Parliament (1991–2015)

In 1991, Oli's party merged with another to form the CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist). Oli became a founding member of this new party. He was also elected as the first chairman of the Democratic National Youth Federation. In 1992, he became a standing committee member of the party and led its publicity department.

In the 1991 election, Oli was elected to parliament from Jhapa 6. He supported the idea of a multi-party democracy for Nepal. After the death of party leader Madan Bhandari in 1993, Oli led a party committee to investigate the incident.

He was reelected in the 1994 election from Jhapa 6. He then became the Home Minister in the government led by Man Mohan Adhikari. Oli also played a key role in getting parliamentary support for the Mahakali treaty, which was a treaty with India about water resources.

He was elected again in the 1999 election from two areas, Jhapa 2 and Jhapa 6, and chose to keep the Jhapa 2 seat.

Oli in 2011

In 2005, when King Gyanendra took direct control of the government, Oli was placed under house arrest. After the 2006 revolution restored democracy, Oli was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in the interim government. He also led a committee to investigate misuse of state power during the King's rule.

Oli lost the 2008 election in Jhapa 7. However, his ideas for changes within the party were accepted in 2009. He was reelected to the central committee but did not win the election for party chair.

Becoming Prime Minister

In the 2013 election, Oli was elected from Jhapa 7. He then became the leader of his party in parliament. In July 2015, he was elected as the chairman of the CPN (UML) party.

First Term as Prime Minister (2015–2016)

After Nepal got its new constitution, Oli was elected as Prime Minister on 11 October 2015. He received strong support from several political parties. He officially took office on 12 October.

His first term began during a time of protests in southern Nepal and a trade blockade by India. To balance relations, his government worked to strengthen ties with China. Nepal and China signed important trade and transit agreements during his visit to China in March 2016.

Oli resigned on 24 July 2016, after his coalition partners withdrew their support.

Second and Third Terms (2018–2021)

In the 2017 election, Oli's party and another major communist party formed an alliance and won a majority of seats. Oli was elected from Jhapa 5. He was then chosen as the leader of his party in parliament.

He became Prime Minister for the second time on 15 February 2018. His government passed a confidence vote in parliament. Later, the two main parties in his coalition merged to form the Nepal Communist Party. Oli became a co-chairman of this new party.

Oli in 2019

In May 2020, Oli's government released new maps of Nepal. These maps included areas disputed with India, such as Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura. This was in response to India opening a road across the Lipulekh pass. A change to the constitution was passed unanimously to officially update Nepal's map and national emblem.

On 20 December 2020, Oli asked the President to dissolve the House of Representatives and call for new elections. He said he made this decision because his party was not allowing him to work effectively as Prime Minister. This decision was criticized by many, and several ministers resigned. However, on 23 February 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that the dissolution was unconstitutional and reinstated the House. Oli accepted the court's decision.

On 7 March 2021, the Supreme Court made another ruling that dissolved the Nepal Communist Party. This decision brought back the original CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) parties. This meant Oli's government became a minority government. The CPN (Maoist Centre) withdrew its support from his government in May 2021.

On 10 May 2021, Oli lost a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives. He then became a minority Prime Minister on 13 May. On 22 May 2021, he again recommended dissolving the House of Representatives. However, on 12 July 2021, the Supreme Court declared this dissolution unconstitutional as well. It ordered the appointment of Sher Bahadur Deuba as the next Prime Minister.

Oli was re-elected as party chair of the CPN (UML) in November 2021.

Fourth Term as Prime Minister (2024–Present)

In the 2022 general election, Oli's party became the second-largest party in parliament. He was reelected from Jhapa 5. After some political discussions, Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal agreed to form a new government.

In July 2024, Oli and Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba agreed to form a government where they would both serve as Prime Minister for equal periods. Oli's party withdrew its support from the previous government. After a vote of confidence failed for the previous Prime Minister, Oli was appointed Prime Minister for a fourth time on 14 July 2024, and sworn in the next day.

Political Views

Oli's political beliefs were influenced by his uncle, Ramnath Dahal, and the Naxalite movement in India during his youth. He has been critical of the Maoist movement in Nepal for the loss of lives during the Civil War.

Nepal's Relations with India

Oli played an important part in getting parliamentary support for the Mahakali treaty with India. This treaty was about water resources.

During his first term as Prime Minister in 2015, he worked to strengthen Nepal's connections with China. This happened after a trade blockade by India. In his second term, his government updated Nepal's official map to include disputed territories with India. This was in response to India opening a road in one of those areas.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, Oli made some comments about the virus coming from India. He also said that Lord Rama, a Hindu deity, was born in Nepal, not India. He claimed to have found evidence for this in Nepal. He also stated that yoga originated in Nepal and Uttarakhand, not India as a whole, because India as a country did not exist when yoga began. These comments caused discussions in both Nepal and India.

Views on Government

Oli has been seen as favoring a more centralized government. During his second term as Prime Minister, he brought more power to his office. He has also been seen as less willing to let provincial and local governments operate fully on their own.

Election Results

Election	House	Constituency	Party		Votes	Result
1991	House of Representatives	Jhapa 6		Communist Party of Nepal	21,049	Y Elected
1994	House of Representatives	Jhapa 6		Communist Party of Nepal	18,861	Y Elected
1999	House of Representatives	Jhapa 2		Communist Party of Nepal	18,909	Y Elected
1999	House of Representatives	Jhapa 6	23,749	Y Vacated
2008	Constituent Assembly	Jhapa 7		Communist Party of Nepal	14,959	N Lost
2013	Constituent Assembly	Jhapa 7		Communist Party of Nepal	19,287	Y Elected
2017	House of Representatives	Jhapa 5		Communist Party of Nepal	57,139	Y Elected
2022	House of Representatives	Jhapa 5		Communist Party of Nepal	52,319	Y Elected

Personal Life

K.P. Oli is married to Radhika Shakya. They met in 1987 at an event for political prisoners who had been released. Radhika Shakya was working at Nepal Rastra Bank and studying at Patan Campus at the time. They got married later that year in a small ceremony.

He lives in Balkot, Bhaktapur, and also has a home in Damak, Jhapa.

Health

During his time in prison, Oli suffered from tuberculosis and a stomach ulcer. He was very thin when he was released. After the 1990 revolution, he developed kidney problems. He had his first kidney transplant in New Delhi in 2007. He had a second kidney transplant in Kathmandu in 2020. In November 2019, he was admitted to intensive care for kidney disease and received dialysis.

K. P. Sharma Oli facts for kids

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