In a move that has sent shockwaves through Nepal, the government has sacked Kulman Ghising, the widely respected Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), on Monday. The abrupt dismissal, announced on March 24, 2025, ends Ghising’s transformative tenure amid escalating tensions with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Deepak Khadka. This decision, likened to stoning a hornet’s nest, threatens to stir a swarm of public discontent, potentially escalating into widespread demonstrations against the Oli-led coalition government.
Ghising’s removal stems from a prolonged feud with the government, reportedly centered on his efforts to recover electricity dues from industries that relied on dedicated feeders and trunk lines during Nepal’s crippling load-shedding years. Over the past eight months, the Ministry of Energy, under Khadka’s leadership, issued multiple clarifications demanding explanations from Ghising—first over unpaid industrial tariffs, then over his handling of a Nepal-India electricity exchange agreement, and most recently over a disputed performance evaluation that rated him a stark zero. Critics within the government accused Ghising of defying ministerial directives, while his supporters argue these charges were a pretext to oust a man whose independence clashed with political agendas.
Appointed in 2016 and reappointed in 2021, Ghising earned nationwide acclaim for ending Nepal’s decade-long load-shedding crisis, transforming the NEA from a loss-making entity into a profitable utility, and spearheading ambitious transmission projects like the 400 kV Chapur-Hetauda line. His proactive leadership—evidenced by recent visits to Birgunj and Chandra Nigahapur to accelerate infrastructure development—stood in stark contrast to the government’s narrative of incompetence. Yet, this very success may have made him a target, as his popularity and perceived autonomy rankled Oli and Khadka, who sought tighter control over the energy sector.
The Cabinet’s decision on March 24 to replace Ghising with Hitendra Dev Shakya, a senior NEA official, has ignited immediate backlash. Opposition leaders from the Nepali Congress, including General Secretary Gagan Thapa, condemned the move as “absolutely wrong,” while social media erupted with calls to “stand together and raise our voices” against what many see as an authoritarian overreach by the Oli administration.
Stoning the hornet’s nest
Ghising’s sacking is not merely the removal of a technocrat—it’s a provocation akin to stoning a hornet’s nest, threatening to unleash a swarm of public anger that could destabilize the government. In Nepal, where electricity access symbolizes progress and resilience, Ghising became a folk hero, a rare figure who delivered tangible results in a political landscape often mired in inefficiency and corruption. His dismissal risks shattering this symbol of hope, striking a nerve with a populace already frustrated by rising power outages and economic stagnation.
The public’s affection for Ghising is rooted in his 2016–2020 tenure, when he slashed load-shedding from 12–14 hours daily to near-zero through strategic imports from India and improved NEA management. His return in 2021 further cemented his legacy, with the NEA reporting profits and expanding hydropower capacity. To many Nepalis, Ghising embodied competence and accountability—qualities they feel are lacking in Oli’s coalition, formed in June 2024 with the Nepali Congress’s uneasy support. The decision to sack him, perceived as a personal vendetta by Oli and Khadka, has thus morphed into a lightning rod for broader grievances.
The tipping point
The potential for public discontent to escalate into widespread demonstrations is real and multifaceted. Nepal’s history offers precedents: The 2006 Jana Andolan II, which toppled King Gyanendra’s autocratic rule, and the 2015 protests against the constitution, both fueled by public outrage over perceived injustice. Today, several factors could amplify this unrest:
Economic frustration: With evening load-shedding resuming (as announced by Khadka on March 19, 2025) and industries facing power cuts despite Ghising’s efforts to prioritize supply, citizens are grappling with economic setbacks. His removal could be seen as sacrificing progress for political gain, galvanizing workers, students, and small business owners.
Social media mobilization: Platforms like X are already abuzz with hashtags like #SaveKulman and #OliMustGo, echoing sentiments from users like “A dark day for Nepal” and urging “justice-seeking individuals” to unite. In a digitally connected Nepal, these calls could swiftly organize street protests, much like the 2020 youth-led demonstrations against Oli’s handling of COVID-19.
Opposition momentum: The Nepali Congress, despite its coalition role, has distanced itself from the decision, with leaders like Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma decrying it as unilateral. This rift could embolden opposition parties—Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Rastriya Swatantra Party, and others—to rally supporters, framing Ghising’s sacking as evidence of Oli’s “dictatorial ways”.
Symbolic resonance: Ghising, a Tamang by ethnicity, also carries cultural weight in a nation sensitive to caste and ethnic representation. Posts on X claim of a “casteist character” in his firing, suggest his dismissal could spark ethnic solidarity movements, particularly among marginalized hill communities.
Imagine Kathmandu’s Durbar Square or Pokhara’s Lakeside thronged with protesters—students waving placards, industrialists decrying power cuts, and citizens chanting Ghising’s name. Such scenes could unfold if the government underestimates the backlash. A single spark—like a viral video of Ghising addressing supporters or a heavy-handed police response—might ignite a nationwide movement, pressuring Oli to backtrack or face a coalition collapse.
A government on the brink?
The sacking’s timing is precarious. Oli’s UML-Nepali Congress coalition, fragile since its inception, faces internal dissent—evidenced by Congress leaders’ opposition—and external scrutiny, with the US recently suspending Millennium Challenge Compact aid over governance concerns. Ghising’s dismissal could fracture this alliance, as Congress may leverage public anger to distance itself from Oli, potentially triggering early elections or a no-confidence motion.
By sacking Kulman Ghising, the Oli government has stoned a hornet’s nest. It could spiral into a defining moment for Nepal’s democracy, with the streets as the battleground.
Moreover, the appointment of Hitendra Dev Shakya, while pragmatic given his seniority among NEA deputies, lacks Ghising’s public trust. If load-shedding worsens or industrial dues remain uncollected, Oli and Khadka will bear the blame, further eroding their credibility. The Supreme Court, which previously reinstated Ghising in 2021, might also intervene if legal challenges arise, compounding the government’s woes.
A risky gamble
By sacking Kulman Ghising, the Oli government has not just removed a capable administrator—it has stoned a hornet’s nest, risking a sting it may not withstand. What began as a bureaucratic tussle could spiral into a defining moment for Nepal’s democracy, with the streets as the battleground. The public’s discontent, already simmering over power cuts and political overreach, now has a face and a cause. Whether this discontent fizzles into resigned frustration or explodes into a mass uprising depends on the government’s next moves—and the people’s resolve. For now, Nepal watches, waits, and buzzes with unrest.
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