FACTBOX: Nepal's long history of political instability

Nepal heads to a crucial general election on Thursday, months after youth-led protests toppled the government, highlighting decades of political instability and frequent leadership changes. The vote comes as the nation seeks to break a cycle of short-lived administrations since the monarchy was abolished in 2008.

REUTERS

March 2, 2026

FACTBOX: Nepal's long history of political instability

Former Prime Minister of Nepal and Chairman of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist- Leninist) K.P Sharma Oli, who was forced to resign after the deadly youth-led protests against corruption in early September last year, interacts with the locals during his door-to-door campaign ahead of Nepal's general election at Jhapa district, Nepal, February 25, 2026.

Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters

KATHMANDU – Nepal is set to vote on Thursday in a pivotal general election, months after historic protests forced the resignation of the government.

The landlocked Himalayan nation has faced decades of political instability, with 32 governments taking office since 1990, none of which completed a full five-year term.

A Brief History of Nepali Politics

Constitutional Monarchy

Nepal was ruled by monarchs until 1951, when a parliamentary democracy was established. A decade later, King Mahendra suspended the constitution and banned political parties.

His son, King Birendra, maintained control until 1990, when Nepal transitioned to a constitutional monarchy. Elections in 1991 and 1999 saw the centrist Nepali Congress – the country's oldest political party – win majorities, but internal conflicts prevented either government from completing its term.

Political instability worsened after the 2001 palace massacre, in which King Birendra and eight other royals were killed by Crown Prince Dipendra, who later died by suicide. In 2005, King Gyanendra assumed power but was overthrown in 2006 following widespread street protests. A national unity government led by the Nepali Congress then took office for two years.

Post-Monarchy Republic

In 2008, a special assembly, dominated by former Maoist rebels, voted to abolish the 239-year-old monarchy. The Communist Party of Nepal, led by former rebels, took power, but political stability remained elusive.

Since then, Nepal has seen 15 government changes, with power shifting between the former Maoist party, the moderate Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), and the Nepali Congress.

A new constitution, enacted in 2015 after seven years of drafting, also failed to produce lasting administrations. The constant political turmoil fueled public apathy, reinforcing a widespread perception that Nepal’s political elite were disconnected from the struggles of ordinary citizens.

Last September, a youth-led anti-corruption movement erupted into street protests, forcing out Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML). Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed interim leader to oversee the upcoming election.

-Compiled by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Devjyot Ghoshal and Raju Gopalakrishnan/Reuters