57 Names of Prime Ministers of Nepal From 1800 to 2021

57 Names of Prime Ministers of Nepal From 1800 to 2021

The Prime Ministers of Nepal are always in the center stage in Nepalese history be it Bhimsen Thapa, the man who built the iconic monument Dharahara to the Ranas who reigned more than a century as head of Nepal.

In this list, we are digging into the history and mentioning the Prime Ministers of Nepal from the Medieval era to the present. So, without delay let’s dive into the list.

1. Prime Ministers Before 1800s and Early 1800 (1776-1803)

This era can be categorized as the era post-Prithivi Narayan Shah Unification which drove Nepalese from a wave of internal unification to external unification. Simply put, the air of imperialism grasped the Nepalese ruler, and on its center was none other than Rana Bahadur Shah who extended Nepalese territory to Kumaun and Garhwal.

Now, as we are talking about the Prime Ministers of Nepal here, let’s get into it. Technically speaking, medieval Nepal did not have a distinct authority such as a prime minister. The words like Mul-Kaji, Chautariya, and Mukhtiyar were used which were the alternative way of calling the Prime Minister.

It gets more interesting as you would notice that the years mentioned below in which the prime ministers who held their position would coincide. This is simply because in those times there used to be councils of prime ministers; who are technically high ranking officials-meaning there could be more than one prime minister at a time.

1. Vamsaraj Pande (1776-1779) (1782-1785)

2. Swarup Singh Karki (1776-1777)

3. Sabarjit Rana Magar (1777-1778)

4. Abhiman Singh Basnyat (1785-1794)

5. Bahadur Shah (1785-1794)

6. Kritiman Singh Basnyat (1794-1801)

7. Bakhtawar Singh Basnyat (1801-1803)

Prime Ministers on Shah Regime and before Rana Regime

This era in Nepalese history also characterizes the expansion of Nepalese territory as Nepal expanded in the East to Tista and Kannada in the West. However, the year 1816 marked the end of the expansion of Nepal as Nepal signed the Sugauli Treaty With the then East India Company (British Rule in India).

We all must have heard of the legendary Bhimsen Thapa who built the Dharahara tower. Well, he is on this list. Bhimsen Thapa played a pivotal role in politics as he claimed his title for more than 30 years, unlike any previous prime minister. The political upheaval caused due to the death of the then prince was the storm that resulted in Bhimsen Thapa a murder charge which cost him his title, career, and later his life.

1. Damodar Pande (1803-1804)

2. Rana Bahadur Shah (1804-1806)

3. Bhimsen Thapa (1806-1837)

4. Rana Jang Pande (1837-1837, 1839-1840)

5. Ranga Nath Poudyal (1837-1838)

6. Chautariya Pushkar Shah (1838-1839)

7. Fateh Jung Shah (1840-1843, 1845-1846)

8. Mathabar Singh Thapa (1843-1845)

Prime Ministers During Rana Regime

Now, if you have heard about the ‘Kot Parva’ you might as well be well informed about the uprising of the Rana’s as rulers of Nepal. On the top of ‘Kot Parva’ was the Jung Bahadur Rana who emerged as the Prime Minister besieging the kings from their absolute power to mere ceremonial status.

In the year 1856, the Royal decree shifted its absolute power to rule to the Rana’s and its family, and the year 1857 Jung Bahadur claimed absolute power as a ruler of the kingdom of Nepal until his death in 1877.

1. Jung Bahadur Rana (1846-1856, 1857-1877)

2. Bam Bahadur Kunwar (1856-1857)

3. Krishna Bahadur Kunwar Rana (1857-1857) (As an acting Prime Minister)

4. Ranodip Singh Kunwar (1877-1885)

5. Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana (1885-1901)

6. Dev Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana (1901-1901)

7. Chandra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1901-1929)

8. Bhim Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana (1929-1932)

9. Juddha Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana (1932-1945)

10. Padma Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana (1945-1948)

11. Mohan Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana (1948-1951)

Prime Ministers post Rana Regime (The Transitional Phase of Nepal 1951 to 1960)

The Anti-Rana establishment movement was successful in 1951 to dethrone the Rana Regime resulting in the throne in the king’s hand and the rebel Nepalese Congress Party held the power of Governance being the first party in Nepalese history to hold such power.

Though in 1959 a Multi-party constitution was stated which brought B.P. Koirala into power through Nepal’s first general election, soon a year later King Mahendra seized control of power dismantling the constitution and party system which later resulted in the Panchayat Era.

1. Matrika Prasad Koirala (1951-1952, 1953-1955)

Direct rule by King Tribhuwan Bir Bikram Shah (1952-1953)

2. Surya Bahadur Thapa (1955-1955)

Direct rule by King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah (1955-1956)

3. Tanka Prasad Acharya (1956-1957)

4. Kunwar Inderjit Singh (1957-1958)

5. Subarna Shamsher Rana (1958-1959)

6. Bisheshwor Prasad Koirala (1959-1960)

Prime Ministers Post Transitional Phase (The Partyless Panchayat Era)

The year 1962 marked to instill the ‘Panchayat Sasan’ in Nepal. As the previous constitution and party system were dismantled, the Panchayat rule would provide no room for party politics but rather would appoint the ‘Council’ known to be the ‘Panchayats’. Resultingly King Mahendra took absolute power to himself and held the Panchayat election in 1963.

Prime Ministers of Nepal

Direct rule by King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah (26 December 1960- 2 April 1963)

1. Tulsi Giri (1963-1963, 1964-1965, 1975-1977)

2. Surya Bahadur Thapa (1963-1964, 1965-1969, 1979-1983)

3.Kriti Nidhi Bista (1969-1970, 1971-1973, 1977-1979)

4. Gehendra Bahadur Rajbhandari- As an acting PM (1970-1971)

5. Nagendra Prasad Rijal (1973-1975, 1986-1986)

6. Lokendra Bahadur Chand (1983-1986, 1990-1990)

7. Marich Man Singh Shrestha (1986-1990)

Prime Ministers Post Democracy Movement of 2045 B.S. (Constitutional Monarchy Era)

The year 1990 marked another historic uprise called the First Jana Andolan Movement (Pro-Democracy Movement) which coalesced the Congress Party and Left parties to revolt against the then Monarchy. Resultingly King Birendra bowed down to the uprising and the first Democratic Election was held in 1991 which reinstated the NCP to power appointing Girija Prasad Koirala as the Prime Minister.

Prime Ministers of Nepal

1. Krishna Prasad Bhattrai – Transitional Phase (1990-1991)

2. Girija Prasad Koirala- (1991-1994, 1998-1999, 2000-2001, 2006-2008)

3. Man Mohan Adhikari (1994-1995)

4. Sher Bahadur Deuba (1995-1997, 2001-2002, 2004-2005)

5. Lokendra Bahadur Chand (1997-1997, 2002-2003)

6. Surya Bahadur Thapa (1997-1998, 2003-2004)

7. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai (1999-2000)

8. Direct Rule by King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah- State emergency Declared (2002-2002, 2005-2006)

Prime Ministers after the Pro-Democracy Movement ending Constitutional Monarchy 2062 B.S. (Federal Republic of Nepal)

The aftermath of the Emergency by King Gyanendra in 2005 through which he again gained absolute power citing the need for an emergency to defeat the Maoist rebel, snowballed to the massive up-rise movement in Nepalese history which is a paradigm of the contemporary Nepalese Political System. The historic democracy movement was now called the ‘Second Jana Andolan’ in Nepalese history which outthrew the long-standing monarchy of Nepal.

Prime Ministers of Nepal

1. Girija Prasad Koirala (2008-2008)

2. Pushpa Kamal Dahal (2008-2009, 2016-2017)

3. Madhav Kumar Nepal (2009-2011)

4. Jhala Nath Khanal (2011-2011)

5. Baburam Bhattrai (2011-2013)

6. Khil Raj Regmi (2013-2014)

7. Sushil Koirala (2014-2015)

8. KP Sharma Oli (2015-2016, 2018-Present)

10. Sher Bahadur Deuba (2017-2018)

Ending Thoughts!

The ebb and flow of power and politics can be analyzed by going through the lists above. Now if you need more context while going through our list, go to this link.

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