Amid efforts to form an interim government in Nepal, Kulman Ghising’s name is gaining significant momentum. During a meeting with Army Chief Ashok Raj on Thursday, Generation-Z leaders proposed Ghising as a candidate, even as Sushila Karki herself met the Army Chief to push her claim. Kulman Ghising, an engineering graduate from NIT Jamshedpur, is widely recognized in Nepal as an honest and dedicated officer. His prominence rose last year when the KP Sharma Oli government prematurely removed him from his post, a move that drew widespread criticism.

Born in Ramechhap, Nepal, Kulman Ghising joined the Energy Department and was appointed as its head in 2016, serving for eight years. During his tenure, he earned a reputation for integrity and efficiency, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply across Nepal’s urban areas, which previously received power only 18 hours a day. Ghising, who openly supported Generation-Z protests, comes from a lower middle-class family and completed his early education at a government school in Nepal before pursuing engineering.

Kulman Ghising’s name has surfaced as a consensus candidate for multiple reasons. First, his direct conflict with KP Sharma Oli, which led to his premature removal, garnered him public sympathy and political support from opposition parties and the ruling Congress at the time. Second, his track record as a hardworking officer who prioritized public service, such as providing 24-hour electricity, has strengthened his credibility. Third, only a small faction supports Sushila Karki, with most political leaders, including former PM Prachanda, KP Sharma Oli, and Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa, emphasizing adherence to constitutional norms. Kulman’s candidacy is being viewed as a choice that can appease all factions and unify the process of forming an interim government.