List of prime ministers of Nepal
This is a list of the Prime Ministers and other heads of government of the Kingdom of Nepal and later Democratic Republic of Nepal.
The position of Prime Minister of Nepal (Nepali: नेपालको प्रधानमन्त्री; Nēpālakō pradhānamantrī) in modern form was called by different names at different times of Nepalese history. At the time of the Shah dynasty, the Mulkajis (Chief Kajis) or Chautariya served the function of Prime Ministers in a council of 4 Chautariyas, 4 Kajis, and sundry officers. These Bharadars (officers) were drawn from high caste and politically influential families such as Pande dynasty, Basnyat dynasty, Thapa dynasty, etc. The nobility of Gorkha was mainly based from Chhetri families and they had a strong presence in civil administration affairs.[1] All of the Prime Minister of Nepal between 1768 to 1950 were Chhetris with the exception of Ranga Nath Poudyal, being a Brahmin.[2] The executive power allocation was fluctuating between Kajis and Chautariyas. In 1804, a single authoritative position of Mukhtiyar was created by Rana Bahadur Shah which carried the executive powers of nation.[3] Mukhtiyar held the position of Executive Head till adoption of title of Prime Minister on November 1843 A.D. by Mathabar Singh Thapa who became Mukhtiyar as well as Prime Minister and Commander-In-Chief of the Nepalese army.[4][5] During the Rana dynasty, the position of Prime Minister was hereditary and the officeholder held additional titles — Maharaja of Lambjang and Kaski, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Nepal and Grand Master of the Royal Orders of Nepal.
After Revolution of 1951, non-aristocratic citizens like Matrika Prasad Koirala held the position of Prime Minister still under the declaration of the King of Nepal. The first election of Primeministership was held on 1959 and Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala became the first elected Prime Minister of Nepal. Subsequently, he was deposed and imprisoned in 1960 by King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah who went on to establish the oligarchic authoritative regime of Panchayat system and Nepal did not have a democratic government until 1990. After the Jana Andolan movement in 1990, the country became a constitutional monarchy. The monarchy was abolished on 28 May 2008 by the 1st Constituent Assembly.
Chief Ministers of Kingdom of Nepal (1768-1803)
Kajis equivalent to Prime Minister of Nepal (1768-1803)
Chautariyas equivalent to Prime Minister of Nepal (1768-1803)
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of Office | Position | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took Office | Left Office | |||||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 1 | Bahadur Shah of Nepal (1757–1797) |
July 1785 | April 1794 | Mul-Chautariya[note 8] | |
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 2 | Ranodyot (Ranodhoj) Shah (1794–??) |
April 1794 | ?? | Mul-Chautariya[note 9] |
Prime Ministers of the Kingdom of Nepal (1803–2008)
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of Office | Political Party | King of Kingdom of Nepal (Reign) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took Office | Left Office | ||||||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 1 | Damodar Pande (1752–1804) |
February 1803 | March 1804 | Independent | Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah (8 March 1799-20 November 1816) | |
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | — | Rana Bahadur Shah (1775–1806) |
1804 [note 10] | 26 April 1806 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 2 | Bhimsen Thapa (1775–1839) |
1806 | July 1837 | Independent | Rajendra Bikram Shah (20 November 1816-12 May 1847) | |
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 3 | Rana Jang Pande (1789–1843) 1st time |
1837 | 1837 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 4 | Ranga Nath Poudyal (1773–?) 1st time |
October 1837 | August 1838 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 5 | Chautariya Puskhar Shah (1784–1846) |
October 1838 | 1839 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (3) | Rana Jang Pande (1789–1843) 2nd time |
April 1839 | 1840 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (4) | Ranga Nath Poudyal (1773–?) 2nd time |
1840 | 1840 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 6 | Fateh Jung Shah (1805–1846) 1st time |
November 1840 | January 1843 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 7 | Mathabar Singh Thapa (1798–1845) |
November 1843 | 25 December 1843 | Independent |
Prime Ministers before the Rana era (1845–1846)
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of Office | Political Party | King of Kingdom of Nepal (Reign) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took Office | Left Office | ||||||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 7 | Mathabar Singh Thapa (1798–1845) |
25 December 1843 | 17 May 1845 | Independent | Rajendra Bikram Shah (20 November 1816-12 May 1847) | |
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (6) | Fateh Jung Shah (1805–1846) 2nd time |
September 1845 | 14 September 1846 | Independent |
Prime Ministers during the Rana era (1846–1951)
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of Office | Political Party | King of Kingdom of Nepal (Reign) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took Office | Left Office | ||||||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 8 | Jung Bahadur Rana (1816–1877) 1st time |
15 September 1846 | 1 August 1856 | Independent | Surendra Bikram Shah (12 May 1847-17 May 1881) | |
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 9 | Bam Bahadur Kunwar (1818–1857) |
1 August 1856 | 25 May 1857 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | — | Krishna Bahadur Kunwar Rana (1823–1863) Acting Prime Minister |
25 May 1857 | 28 June 1857 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (8) | Jung Bahadur Rana (1816–1877) 2nd time |
28 June 1857 | 25 February 1877 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 10 | Ranodip Singh Kunwar (1825–1885) |
27 February 1877 | 22 November 1885 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 11 | Bir Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1852–1901) |
22 November 1885 | 5 March 1901 | Independent | Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah (17 May 1881-11 December 1911) | |
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 12 | Dev Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1862–1914) |
5 March 1901 | 27 June 1901 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 13 | Chandra Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1863–1929) |
27 June 1901 | 26 November 1929 | Independent | Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah (11 December 1911-13 March 1955) | |
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 14 | Bhim Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana (1865–1932) |
26 November 1929 | 1 September 1932 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 15 | Juddha Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1875–1952) |
1 September 1932 | 29 November 1945 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 16 | Padma Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1882–1961) |
29 November 1945 | 30 April 1948 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 17 | Mohan Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1885–1967) |
30 April 1948 | 12 November 1951 | Independent |
Prime Ministers during the Transition era (1951–1960)
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of Office | Political Party | King of Kingdom of Nepal (Reign) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took Office | Left Office | ||||||
style="background:Template:Nepali Congress/meta/color;"| | 18 | Matrika Prasad Koirala (1912–1997) 1st time |
16 November 1951 | 14 August 1952 | Nepali Congress | Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah (11 December 1911–13 March 1955) | |
— | Direct rule by King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah (1906–1955) |
14 August 1952 | 15 June 1953 | — | |||
(18) | Matrika Prasad Koirala (1912–1997) 2nd time |
15 June 1953 | 14 April 1955 | Rastriya Praja Party | |||
— | Direct rule by King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah (1920–1972) |
14 April 1955 | 27 January 1956 | — | Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah (14 March 1955–31 January 1972) | ||
19 | Tanka Prasad Acharya (1912–1992) |
27 January 1956 | 26 July 1957 | Nepal Praja Parishad | |||
20 | Kunwar Inderjit Singh (1906–1982) |
26 July 1957 | 15 May 1958 | United Democratic Party | |||
style="background:Template:Nepali Congress/meta/color;"| | 21 | Subarna Shamsher Rana (1910–1977) |
15 May 1958 | 27 May 1959 | Nepali Congress | ||
style="background:Template:Nepali Congress/meta/color;"| | 22 | Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala (1914–1982) |
27 May 1959 | 26 December 1960 | Nepali Congress |
Prime Ministers during the Panchayat era (1960–1990)
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of Office | Political Party | King of Kingdom of Nepal (Reign) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took Office | Left Office | ||||||
— | Direct rule by King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah (1920–1972) |
26 December 1960 | 2 April 1963 | — | Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah (14 March 1955–31 January 1972) | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 23 | Tulsi Giri (1926–) 1st time |
2 April 1963 | 23 December 1963 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 24 | Surya Bahadur Thapa (1928–2015) 1st time |
23 December 1963 | 26 February 1964 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (23) | Tulsi Giri (1926–) 2nd time |
26 February 1964 | 26 January 1965 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (24) | Surya Bahadur Thapa (1928–2015) 2nd time |
26 January 1965 | 7 April 1969 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 25 | Kirti Nidhi Bista (1927–2017) 1st time |
7 April 1969 | 13 April 1970 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | — | Gehendra Bahadur Rajbhandari (1923–1994) Acting Prime Minister |
13 April 1970 | 14 April 1971 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (25) | Kirti Nidhi Bista (1927–2017) 2nd time |
14 April 1971 | 16 July 1973 | Independent | Birendra Bir Bikram Shah (31 January 1972–1 June 2001) | |
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 26 | Nagendra Prasad Rijal (1927–1994) 1st time |
16 July 1973 | 1 December 1975 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (23) | Tulsi Giri (1926–) 3rd time |
1 December 1975 | 12 September 1977 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (25) | Kirti Nidhi Bista (1927–2017) 3rd time |
12 September 1977 | 30 May 1979 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (24) | Surya Bahadur Thapa (1928–2015) 3rd time |
30 May 1979 | 12 July 1983 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 27 | Lokendra Bahadur Chand (1940–) 1st time |
12 July 1983 | 21 March 1986 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (26) | Nagendra Prasad Rijal (1927–1994) 2nd time |
21 March 1986 | 15 June 1986 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | 28 | Marich Man Singh Shrestha (1942–2013) |
15 June 1986 | 6 April 1990 | Independent | ||
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| | (27) | Lokendra Bahadur Chand (1940–) 2nd time |
6 April 1990 | 19 April 1990 | Independent |
Prime Ministers during the Constitutional monarchy (1990–2008)
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of Office | Political Party | King of Kingdom of Nepal (Reign) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took Office | Left Office | Days | ||||||
style="background:Template:Nepali Congress/meta/color;"| | 29 | Krishna Prasad Bhattarai (1924–2011) 1st time |
19 April 1990 | 26 May 1991 | 402 | Nepali Congress | Birendra Bir Bikram Shah (31 January 1972–1 June 2001) | |
style="background:Template:Nepali Congress/meta/color;"| | 30 | Girija Prasad Koirala (1924–2010) 1st time |
26 May 1991 | 30 November 1994 | 1284 | Nepali Congress | ||
style="background:Template:Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)/meta/color;"| | 31 | Man Mohan Adhikari (1920–1999) |
30 November 1994 | 12 September 1995 | 286 | Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | ||
style="background:Template:Nepali Congress/meta/color;"| | 32 | Sher Bahadur Deuba (1946–) 1st time |
12 September 1995 | 12 March 1997 | 547 | Nepali Congress | ||
style="background:Template:Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Chand)/meta/color;"| | (27) | Lokendra Bahadur Chand (1940–) 3rd time |
12 March 1997 | 7 October 1997 | 209 | Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Chand) | ||
style="background:Template:Rastriya Prajatantra Party/meta/color;"| | (24) | Surya Bahadur Thapa (1928–2015) 4th time |
7 October 1997 | 15 April 1998 | 190 | Rastriya Prajatantra Party | ||
style="background:Template:Nepali Congress/meta/color;"| | (30) | Girija Prasad Koirala (1924–2010) 2nd time |
15 April 1998 | 31 May 1999 | 411 | Nepali Congress | ||
style="background:Template:Nepali Congress/meta/color;"| | (29) | Krishna Prasad Bhattarai (1924–2011) 2nd time |
31 May 1999 | 22 March 2000 | 296 | Nepali Congress | ||
style="background:Template:Nepali Congress/meta/color;"| | (30) | Girija Prasad Koirala (1924–2010) 3rd time |
22 March 2000 | 26 July 2001 | 491 | Nepali Congress | ||
style="background:Template:Nepali Congress/meta/color;"| | (32) | Sher Bahadur Deuba (1946–) 2nd time |
26 July 2001 | 4 October 2002 | 435 | Nepali Congress | Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah (4 June 2001–28 May 2008) | |
— | Direct rule by King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah (1947–) |
4 October 2002 | 11 October 2002 | 7 | — | |||
style="background:Template:Rastriya Prajatantra Party/meta/color;"| | (27) | Lokendra Bahadur Chand (1940–) 4th time |
11 October 2002 | 5 June 2003 | 237 | Rastriya Prajatantra Party | ||
style="background:Template:Rastriya Prajatantra Party/meta/color;"| | (24) | Surya Bahadur Thapa (1928–2015) 5th time |
5 June 2003 | 3 June 2004 | 364 | Rastriya Prajatantra Party | ||
(32) | Sher Bahadur Deuba (1946–) 3rd time |
3 June 2004 | 1 February 2005 | 243 | Nepali Congress (Democratic) | |||
— | Direct rule by King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah (1947–) |
1 February 2005 | 25 April 2006 | 448 | — | |||
style="background:Template:Nepali Congress/meta/color;"| | (30) | Girija Prasad Koirala (1924–2010) 4th time |
25 April 2006 | 28 May 2008 | 764 | Nepali Congress |
Prime Ministers of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (2008–present)
Living former prime ministers
As of September 2024, there are following living former prime ministers:
President | Term of office | Date of birth | Portrait |
---|---|---|---|
Tulsi Giri | 1963–1963; 1964-1965; 1975-1977 | September 26, 1926 | |
Lokendra Bahadur Chand | 1983–1986; 1990-1990; 1997-1997; 2002-2003 | February 15, 1940 | |
Sher Bahadur Deuba | 1995–1997; 2001-2002; 2004-2005; 2017-2018 | June 13, 1946 | |
Prachanda (Pushpa Kamal Dahal) | 2008-2009; 2016-2017 | December 11, 1954 | |
Madhav Kumar Nepal | 2009-2011 | March 6, 1953 | |
Jhala Nath Khanal | 2011-2011 | May 20, 1950 | |
Baburam Bhattarai | 2011-2013 | June 18, 1954 | |
Khil Raj Regmi | 2013-2014 (acting) | May 31, 1949 |
References
Footnotes
- ^ The document dated Bikram Samvat 1833 Bhadra Vadi 3 Roj 6 (i.e. Friday 2 August, 1776), shows that both Swaroop Singh Karki and Vamsharaj Pande had carried the title of Dewan (equivalent to Prime Minister).[6]
- ^ The document dated Bikram Samvat 1833 Bhadra Vadi 3 Roj 6 (i.e. Friday 2 August, 1776), shows that both Swaroop Singh Karki and Vamsharaj Pande had carried the title of Dewan (equivalent to Prime Minister).[6]
- ^ Historian Dilli Raman Regmi asserts that Sarbajit was chosen as Chief Kazi.[7] Historian Rishikesh Shah asserts that Sarbajit was appointed only a Kaji [8] and was the head of the Nepalese government for a short period in 1778.[9]
- ^ Daniel Wright mentions him as the Mantri-Nayak (Prime Minister) under the King Rana Bahadur Shah (1777-1799).[10]
- ^ Abhiman Singh Basnyat was replaced by Kirtiman Singh Basnyat as Mul-Kaji[11] after the dismissal of government on maturity of King Rana Bahadur Shah on 1794 AD.[12]
- ^ Though the position of Mulkaji (Chief Kaji) was bestowed on Kirtiman Singh in 1794, Damodar Pande was the most influential Kaji.[12] and Damodar lead the military forces and the second government to prevent the re-estabishment of royal authority of self-renounced King Rana Bahadur Shah in 1799.[13][14]
- ^ Bakhtawar Singh Basnyat, brother of assassinated Kirtiman Singh, was then given the post of Mulkaji.[15]
- ^ On Shrawan 1842 B.S. (i.e. July 1785), after the death of Regent Queen Rajendra Laxmi, Bahadur Shah assumed the regency and administration on the call of Bharadars.[16] Prince Ranodyot Shah replaced Prince Bahadur Shah of Nepal as Chief Chautariya (Mul-Chautariya) in Baisakh 1851 B.S. (i.e. April 1794). The Chief Chautariya carried the functions of a Prime Minister.[17]
- ^ Prince Ranodyot Shah replaced Prince Bahadur Shah of Nepal as Chief Chautariya (Mul-Chautariya) in Baisakh 1851 B.S. (i.e. April 1794). The Chief Chautariya carried the functions of a Prime Minister.[17] Kumar Pradhan mentions his name as Ranodhoj Shah[12] as written by prominent historian Baburam Acharya.[18]
- ^ The position of Mukhtiyar was formed and ruled by renounced King Rana Bahadur Shah on the year 1804 A.D.[18]
Notes
- ^ Pahari 1995, p. 632.
- ^ Raj 1996, p. 5.
- ^ Nepal, Gyanmani (2007). Nepal ko Mahabharat (in Nepali) (3rd ed.). Kathmandu: Sajha. p. 314. ISBN 9789993325857.
- ^ Regmi 1971, p. 17.
- ^ Kandel, Devi Prasad (2011). Pre-Rana Administrative System. Chitwan: Siddhababa Offset Press. p. 95.
- ^ a b Regmi 1975, p. 272.
- ^ D.R. Regmi 1975, p. 285.
- ^ Shaha 1990, p. 46.
- ^ Shaha 2001, p. 21.
- ^ Wright 1877, p. 260.
- ^ Karmacharya 2005, p. 56.
- ^ a b c Pradhan 2012, p. 12.
- ^ Pradhan 2012, p. 13.
- ^ Acharya 2012, pp. 28–32.
- ^ Acharya 2012, p. 35.
- ^ Vaidya & Bajracharya 1991, p. 9.
- ^ a b Regmi 1971, p. 12.
- ^ a b Pradhan 2012, p. 25.
- ^ "Girija Prasad koirla prime minister". nepalnews. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ a b "Girija prasad, acting head of state of nepal". cnn. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ a b bbc http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7475112.stm. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ "Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda sworn in as new Nepal PM". Hindustan Times. 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
- ^ "Sher Bahadur Deuba sworns in as Prime Minister". thehimalayantimes.com. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
- ^ "PM Deuba announces resignation". The Kathmandu Post. 2018-02-15. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "Sher Bahadur Deuba resigns, KP Oli to take over as Nepal PM". The Indian Express. 2018-02-15. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "Newly appointed PM KP Sharma Oli takes oath of office". The Kathmandu Post. 2018-02-15. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
Books
- Acharya, Baburam (2012), Acharya, Shri Krishna (ed.), Janaral Bhimsen Thapa : Yinko Utthan Tatha Pattan (in Nepali), Kathmandu: Education Book House, p. 228, ISBN 9789937241748
- Nepal, Gyanmani (2007), Nepal ko Mahabharat (in Nepali) (3rd ed.), Kathmandu: Sajha, p. 314, ISBN 9789993325857
- Amatya, Shaphalya (June–November 1978), "The failure of Captain Knox's mission in Nepal" (PDF), Ancient Nepal (46–48), Kathmandu: 9–17, retrieved January 11, 2013
- Pradhan, Kumar L. (2012), Thapa Politics in Nepal: With Special Reference to Bhim Sen Thapa, 1806–1839, New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, p. 278, ISBN 9788180698132
- Karmacharya, Ganga (2005), Queens in Nepalese Politics: an account of roles of Nepalese queens in state affairs, 1775-1846, Nepal: Educational Publishing House, ISBN 9789994633937
- Pahari, Anup (1995), The Origins, Growth and Dissolution of Feudalism in Nepal: A Contribution to the Debate on Feudalism in Non-European Societies, vol. 4, University of Wisconsin--Madison
- Raj, Prakash A. (1996), Brahmins of Nepal, Nabeen Publications
- Regmi, Mahesh Chandra (1971). Regmi Research Series (PDF). Vol. 03. Regmi Research Centre.
- Shaha, Rishikesh (1990), Modern Nepal 1769–1885, Riverdale Company, ISBN 0-913215-64-3
- Shaha, Rishikesh (2001), An Introduction of Nepal, Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar
- D.R. Regmi (1975), Modern Nepal, vol. 1, Firma K.L. Mukhopadhyay, ISBN 0883864916
- Wright, Daniel (1877), History of Nepal, Cambridge University Press