Kathmandu, 12 Sept

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki took oath as Nepal’s first woman prime minister on Friday, to lead an interim government, ending days of political uncertainty after the abrupt resignation of prime minister K P Sharma Oli earlier this week following wide-spread protests.

President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office to Karki, 73, at the President’s Office.

Besides President Paudel and the newly-elected prime minister, Vice President Ram Sahay Yadav and Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Rawat were present during the occasion.

President Paudel said the new caretaker government is mandated to hold fresh parliamentary elections within six months.

Widely respected for her tenure as Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice, Karki, 73, is set to script history by becoming Nepal's first woman prime minister.

Karki was chosen to lead the interim government after a meeting between President Ram Chandra Paudel, Nepal's top military brass, and representatives of youth protesters.

She faces the immediate challenge of restoring law and order in Nepal following the massive protests since Sunday.

Sushila Karki has been appointed as the head of the Interim government following a consensus among all sides, the president's press advisor said.

Karki will now form a small cabinet and at the first meeting of the cabinet she will recommend to the President the dissolution of the Parliament as per the understanding reached among various stakeholders, officials said.

The President will then dissolve the Parliament, they said.

President Paudel also consulted with leaders of major political parties, legal experts and civil society leaders separately before deciding to appoint the caretaker prime minister, the officials said.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was forced to resign after the 'Gen Z' group launched a massive protest.

The major demands of the protesters included checking corruption, ending favouritism and lifting ban on social media sites.