Oli, K. P. Sharma (Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli), 1952–, Nepalese political leader. Opposed to the antidemocratic Nepalese monarchy, he joined the Nepal Communist party (1970), was arrested on charges of participating in an armed uprising, and was imprisoned for much of the time between 1973 and 1987. After his release, he became a central committee member of the Communist party of Nepal–Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) and helped establish (1990) a constitutional monarchy and democratic constitution. Oli was first elected to parliament in 1991 and served as home minister (1994–95). He was deputy prime minister and foreign minister (2006–7) in the interim government that stripped the monarchy of its powers and secured peace with the Maoist rebels. Head of his party since 2014, he was prime minister of Nepal (2015–16, 2018–) in coalition with the Maoists and other parties. In 2018 the CPN-UML merged with the Maoists to form the Nepal Communist party, with Oli and Prachanda as co-leaders.
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