Sudan Gurung - once hailed as the Gen Z architect of Nepal’s political upheaval and the public face of the Hami Nepal movement - has been abruptly sidelined.
The activist who helped topple the KP Oli–led government and, via social media momentum, propelled Sushila Karki to the post of Prime Minister, now finds himself on the margins of the very order he helped create.
Gurung’s strength was youth power. Through Hami Nepal, he mobilized millions of young supporters nationwide.
But that momentum appears to have evaporated: when he recently called for a march to honor victims of political violence, fewer than four people reportedly turned up.
Meanwhile, the new cabinet includes figures Gurung had publicly opposed, and Prime Minister Karki - once boosted by his online polls - has, by his camp’s account, declined to meet him. Media outlets that once lionized Gurung are now among his sharpest critics.
Though Gurung threatens to bring down the government, shifting political equations have sharply curtailed his influence. What, then, are his levers if he attempts a fresh agitation?
Compensation Flashpoint:
Gurung is pressing for â¹50 lakh compensation to families of those killed in the unrest, while the government has held the line at â¹10 lakh. He may try to turn this gap into a mass-mobilizing issue.
Betrayal Narrative:
He could argue that Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal’s alleged double-cross for a cabinet berth signals a willingness to trade national interest for personal gain—an argument aimed at eroding public trust in the ruling bloc.
Karki’s “Snub” Angle:
Gurung may also claim that Prime Minister Karki ignored the very force that helped elevate her — using that perceived slight to frame the government as ungrateful and out of touch with its base.
Whether these lines of attack can revive Gurung’s street power remains uncertain.
For now, the once-ascendant influencer of Kathmandu politics is confronting his toughest test yet: proving he can still move the masses.