Prime Ministers Records of Nepal
First Mulkaji
Kirtiman Singh Basnyat or Basnet, a courtier,
became the first Mulkaji, a position equivalent to the prime minister, in 1799
during the reign of King Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah, then an infant. Basnyat was
assassinated in 1801.
First Mukhtiyar
Ran Bahadur Shah (1775-1805) the King of Nepal
from 1777 to 1799 who had abdicated in favour of his infant son Girvan Yuddha
Bikram Shah, held the title of Mukhtiyar' in 1805. After two months he was killed
by his half brother Chautariya (similar to the title of Duke) Sher Bahadur
Shah.
First civilian to be the
Mukhtiyar
Bhimsen Thapa became the first civilian
mukhtiyar after the death of the Mukhtiyar and the former king Ran Bahadur Shah
in 1805.
First prime minister
Mathavar Singh Thapa was the first title
holder of the prime minister in Nepal on December 25, 1843; however, he and
many others had earlier held the titles of 'Mukhtiyar', and "Mulkaji'
equivalent to the prime ministerial position.
First prime minister in democracy
Rana Premier Mohan Shamsher became the first
PM after a rather compromising accord among the King-the Ranas and the Nepali
Congress Party, on February 18, 1951.
First
prime minister from among the commoners
Matrika Prasad Koirala, the president of the
Nepali Congress Party, became the first prime minister of Nepal from among the
common Nepali people aftermath the Rana-Congress coalition government led by
Premier Mohan Shamsher failed on November 16, 1951.
First elected prime minister
Bishweshwor Prasad (BP) Koirala, leader of the
Nepali Congress party that secured a two- third majority in the first general
election was elected the prime minister, the first in the history of Nepal on
May 27, 1959.
First elected prime minister to
address the nation
BP Koirala addressed the Nepali people as the
first elected prime minister of Nepal on May 28, 1959.
Youngest prime minister
Jung Bahadur Rana, born on June 18, 1817 was
the youngest prime minister of Nepal. He became the prime minister on September
25, 1846 at the age of 28 years and 282 days.
Longest time prime minister
Jung Bahadur Rana held the premiership from
September 25, 1846 to February 25, 1877 for a record 30 years and 154 days.
Single longest tenure
Marichman Singh Shrestha was the longest
serving prime minister in a single tenure of 45 months and 11 days from June
16, 1986 to April 6, 1990.
Prime ministers for the most
number of times
Surya Bahadur Thapa and Girija Prasad Koirala
became prime minister in a record number of five different times.
Prime minister for the shortest
period
Lokendra Bahadur Chand became the prime
minister of Nepal for 13 days during the Mass Movement- 1990.
Oldest prime minister
Girija Prasad Koirala (1924-2010) was 82 years
when he was sworn in as the prime minister for the fifth time, on April 25,
2006.
Three brothers as prime
ministers in democracy
Krishna
Prasad Koirala, a veteran Democratic activist who lost his life in prison had
his three sons- Matrika Prasad Koirala, Bishweshwor Prasad Koirala and Girija
Prasad Koirala, all as prime ministers of Nepal in democracy. (WR)
Five brothers as prime ministers
In the autocratic Rana regime (15-9-1846 to
18-2-1951) five out of the ten prime ministers, i.e. Bir Shamsher, Dev
Shamsher, Chandra Shamsher, Bhim Shamsher and Juddha Shamsher were sons of Dhir
Shamsher, commander in chief and the youngest brother of the founder of the
Rana regime, Premier Jung Bahadur. Kaji Balanarsingh Kunwar's three sons- Jung
Bahadur, Bam Bahadur and Ranodwip Singh had earlier become the prime minister
of Nepal. (WR)
First prime minister imprisoned
BP Koirala was the first elected prime
minister to be illegitimately arrested and then imprisoned without any trial
along with his party men for about 8 years (15-12-1960 to 30-10-1968) by King
Mahendra on December 15, 1960.
Acting prime minister for
maximum number of times
Bal Bahadur Rai (1917-2010), a senior leader
of the Nepali Congress party held the responsibility of acting prime minister
for 19 times.
Only ex-prime minister turned
diplomat
Matrika Prasad Koirala who had become the
prime minister twice carlier, held the post of the ambassador to the United
States of America on April 17, 1061 and the permanent representative to the
United Nations until he tendered his resignation to the king on August 6, 1964.
Only impeached prime minister
Surya Bahadur Thapa was the only prime
minister who got ill-fated through a resolution of impeachment against him was
passed through the Rashtriya Panchayat, the unilateral parliament during the
Panchayat system on July 11, 1983.
PM for the shortest period
Lokendra Bahadur Chand led a government during
the last days of the Panchayat system from April 6, 1990 to April 19, 1990.