K P Sharma Oli elected as new Prime Minister of Nepal: Would it adversely affect bilateral ties with India?

From once receiving flak for his pro-India stance; Oli is now one of the biggest critic of New Delhi for allegedly imposing 'undeclared blockade' on the borders

Kathmandu, Oct 11: K P Sharma Oli, the chairman of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) has been elected as the Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation after the 601-member parliament strongly rallied behind him to lead the nascent democratic socialist setup of the nation. His elevation to the top post is in continuity with a series of events that have triggered in Nepal following the adoption of the new constitution.

Who is K P Sharma Oli?

Once known for being a left-wing extremist, K P Sharma Oli turned into a moderate Marxist after spending nearly 18 years in jail. It was in 1975, he ended up behind the bars for allegedly being involved in the murder of upper-caste ‘land-owners’. However, after serving his conviction, he underwent an ideological change and softened his stand. Though, he was a committed a communist, he advocated for non-violent measures to uproot the establishment rather than leading an armed, bloodstained revolution.

In 1990, he was appointed as a key second generation leader of CPN (UM-L). After years of rigorous struggle, the Nepali Congress along with leftist political activists abolished the 700-year-old Hindu monarch regime in the state. Nepal thereafter turned into a multi-party democracy in 2007. In 2010, he was appointed as the chairman of the CPN (UM-L).

Stance on India

Oli was once a hated figure even among the leftist circles for his ‘against all odds’ support to India. He was branded as a ‘pro-India’ political persona for awarding the ambitious Mahakali Hydro Project to India that led to a split within his own party. However, Oli successfully rectified his image by acting in a strict manner against the Indian-backed Madhesis. The revered leader slammed New Delhi for allegedly interfering in the internal affairs of Nepal, and backing an uncompromising vocal minority for its own vested interests.

His increased proximity towards the Chinese leadership further validates the fact that Oli would like to further draw the wedge between Kathmandu and its eastern neighbour – India.