KATHMANDU: The Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas, has debunked CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli’s claim that he did not recommend former Chief Justice Sushila Karki to be appointed as interim prime minister.

Presidential Press Adviser Kiran Pokharel said the interim government was formed with the consent of major political parties and on the written recommendation of then Prime Minister Oli.

“Given the extraordinary circumstances, the President acted according to the constitution and made the decision based on Oli’s written recommendation to provide a political way out,” Pokharel told Nepal News.

Political Adviser to the President, Sunil Thapa, also stated that President Ramchandra Paudel held extensive consultations with senior leaders — including Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak, Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and Unified Socialist Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal — before forming the interim government.

“We were part of those discussions, and the decision was taken with consensus,” Thapa said.

Earlier today, Oli told editors that the formation of the interim government was unconstitutional.

“I recommended a constitutional solution to the crisis, but not Sushila Karki as prime minister,” he said.

However, sources at Sheetal Niwas maintained that Karki’s appointment was indeed made on Oli’s written recommendation.

“If necessary, we can make the recommendation public, but the interim government was formed at Oli’s proposal,” the source said.

Following the Gen Z protests, Oli resigned on September 9, and President Paudel appointed Sushila Karki as interim prime minister on September 12 under Article 61(4) of the Constitution.

On the interim cabinet’s recommendation, the President dissolved the House of Representatives and set the election date for March 5, 2026.

The protests left 74 people dead, yet Oli has not taken responsibility.

Having twice dissolved the House in 2020 and 2021, Oli now supports its reinstatement.