The eldest child of father Mohan Prasad and mother Madhumaya Oli, KP Sharma Oli lost his mother at the age of four to smallpox. After the death of his mother, Oli’s grandmother Rammaya brought him up.

Prime Minister Oli’s childhood name was Dhruba. While enrolling in school, his parents changed his name to Khadga Prasad. He studied up to fifth grade at local Pranami Middle School.

According to his childhood friends, KP was a smart kid with a sharp mind. He liked playing chess and encouraged others to take up the game as well, they recall.

He also enjoyed playing football and was very good at scoring goals, his childhood friend and distant nephew Padam Prasad Oli said. Those days, he liked writing patriotic poems and reading them out to his friends, Padam Prasad continued.

With help from communist leader Ramnath Dahal, KP migrated to Jhapa in 1963 at the age of 12. Dahal was later killed in Sukhani Murders. Having been influenced by Marxist and Leninist philosophies, KP entered communist politics in 1966.

He went underground in 1970 after taking membership of Nepal Communist Party. The same year, he was arrested by the Panchayat government. In 1971, he took leadership of Jhapa Rebellion which was initiated by beheading landlords in the district. Between 1973 and 1987, KP spent 14 years behind bars in different jails in the country. After his release, he became the central committee member of CPM-ML. In 1989, KP took up the responsibility of party’s Lumbini zonal chief.

After the 1990 revolution that saw the downfall of Panchayat regime, KP Oli became a popular name in the country. In 1991, he became the founding chairman of Prajatantrik Rastriya Yuwa Sangh. A year later, he became the party’s publicity department chief and established himself as a main figure in Nepali politics.

Tehrathum celebrates Oli’s election

Chandra Karki (Tehrathum)

People in Tehrathum have welcomed the news of KP Sharma Oli being elected the country’s new prime minister and expressed hop that he would take the initiative to develop the district where he was born.

As news began to surface from last week about Oli poised to become the 38th prime minister of the country, the people in Iwa, the village where Oli was born, could not contain their excitement. When Oli was finally named the next prime minister, they broke into celebration.

Immediately after the announcement of his appointment, the people in Tehrathum decided to celebrate the occasion by lighting candles in the evening. A special ceremony has been planned at Pranami Middle School (now high school), where Oli received his primary level education.

Outgoing vice-chairman of Iwa VDC Tulasi Sangraula said that people of the village are extremely happy after seeing one of their own become the prime minister. Sangraula said the villagers believe that Oli is capable of finding a solution to the ongoing crisis and lead the country towards prosperity.

With Oli taking the prime minister’s mantle, people in Tehrathum believe their relation with Kathmandu will get closer. They expect that Oli will usher in an era of development in the district.  “Despite other responsibilities, Oli will focus on developing the district,” Bhupal Karki, a teacher from Fakchamara VDC, said. “My suggestion for him is to solve the current standoff with India through dialogue.”

Former District Development Committee member Laxman Tiwari said that Oli has the capacity of uniting all political powers in the country towards peace, stability and development as he is very clever and cunning.

PM’s constituency expresses joy

DAMAK: People in Jhapa constituency-7, where new Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli got elected in the Constituent Assembly, are excited by his appointment. During the election campaign, his supporters in the constituency had promoted him as the future prime minister. According to CPN-UML regional chairman Netra Dahal, locals of Ganatantrik Chowk in Damak, Kerkha in Topgachhi and Oli’s neighbourhood in Damak-10 organised Dipawali to celebrate his election.

In the past, Oli was elected to parliament in 1991 and again in 1994 from Jhapa constituency-6 and in

1999 from constituency-2 and 6. He had lost the first CA elections in 2008 from Jhapa-7.

“Our dream has come true,” Oli’s childhood friend Harichan Shiwakoti said. “His outspoken nature since childhood has helped him reach the top political post.” Like Shiwakoti, several Jhapa residents expressed happiness with the election of Oli as the new prime minister.