Nepal has been pushed into the current situation for a variety of reasons that have a historical context. One of the key factors in this regard is shifting political alliances that led to a whole generation getting disillusioned with the political class at large. The immediate trigger was the government’s attempt to block social media, which backfired disastrously. As violent clashes erupted between protesters and police, symbols of authority were set on fire, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had to subsequently step down.

Meanwhile, responding to the crisis, the Nepal Army stepped in as a stabilising force. The country’s political landscape underwent a dramatic shift on Friday as the parliament was officially dissolved, just hours after former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as interim Prime Minister.

Karki, 73, took the oath of office in a formal ceremony at the presidential residence, vowing to lead the country through a six-month transitional period leading up to the general election.

The origin of the current crisis dates back to 2015. The new constitution was implemented with a promise of transforming Nepal into a parliamentary democracy with strong elements of federalism. But the implementation process couldn’t take off smoothly. The first casualty was the Madhes/Terai region, which complained of unresolved grievances, creating a mistrust between the state and the affected communities.

As institutions were being set up to be the vanguard of democracy, the confidence in the old guards—KP Sharma Oli, the last PM and chief of the Nepal Communist Party (UML), Sher Bahadur Deuba, chief of the Nepali Congress; and Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda of........

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