Nepal’s interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki will have her first official phone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
The discussion was originally planned for Tuesday, but it was postponed at the last moment. With Wednesday declared a public holiday to mourn the lives lost in the recent Gen Z protests, the new date was fixed for the next morning.
The phone call comes at an important time in Nepal’s politics. Just a few days ago, mass anti-corruption protests led by young people forced the resignation of Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
The protests, driven mainly by Generation Z activists, called for clean governance and fresh leadership.
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In search of a neutral leader, protesters suggested the name of Karki. To make the choice more democratic, activists held an online poll on the communication platform Discord. Out of five names, Karki received the most support.
The Nepalese army later supported this decision, and on 12 September, the Federal Parliament of Nepal was dissolved. Her appointment is historic as she is the first woman in Nepal’s history to hold the post.
I extend my best wishes to Right Hon. Mrs. Sushila Karki on assuming office as the Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal. India remains firmly committed to the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 13, 2025
India has already shown support for her leadership. Soon after Karki’s swearing-in, Modi posted a message on social media: “I extend my best wishes to Right Hon. Mrs. Sushila Karki on assuming office as the Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal. India remains firmly committed to the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal.”
The upcoming phone conversation between Narendra Modi and Sushila Karki is expected to focus on cooperation between the two countries, as well as political stability in the Himalayan nation.