Protesters from all seven provinces accuse the government of displacing communities without resettlement plans.

To supporters, Oli is ‘Ba’—a father figure. To critics, he weakened intra-party democracy and shut his eyes to corruption. Now Oli could be fighting his final battle against Balen.

The ethnic Nepalis in Sikkim raised strong objections after the Supreme Court of India termed them “people of foreign origin” during a hearing on January 13 this year.