King Mahendra's Royal Coup — PM B.P. Koirala Arrested, Democracy Suspended
राजा महेन्द्रको राजकीय 'कू' — प्रधानमन्त्री बी.पी. कोइराला गिरफ्तार, प्रजातन्त्र निलम्बित
What happened
On December 15, 1960, King Mahendra suddenly arrested the elected Prime Minister B.P. Koirala while he was asleep, dissolved parliament, and cancelled all political parties. Koirala spent 7 years in prison. Nepal went from democracy back to royal dictatorship in one night.
Full Verified Record
On 15 December 1960, King Mahendra dismissed Nepal's elected government, suspended the 1959 Constitution, dissolved parliament, arrested Prime Minister B.P. Koirala and most of his cabinet, and banned all political parties. Mahendra claimed the parliamentary system was 'unsuitable' for Nepal and introducing 'disorder.' B.P. Koirala was imprisoned for 7 years without trial. Mahendra replaced the multiparty system with the Panchayat system — a partyless tiered council system with the king at its apex. The coup ended Nepal's first democratic experiment and imposed 28 more years of authoritarian rule.
१५ डिसेम्बर १९६० मा राजा महेन्द्रले निर्वाचित सरकार बर्खास्त गरे, प्रधानमन्त्री बी.पी. कोइरालालाई गिरफ्तार गरे, संसद भंग गरे र सबै राजनीतिक दलहरू निषेध गरे।
Why it mattered
Mahendra's coup destroyed Nepal's first democratic experiment and imposed 28 additional years of authoritarian rule. It created a generation of political exiles and underground activists. The trauma shaped Nepal's democratic movements in 1990 and 2006 — and B.P. Koirala's legacy continued to define Nepali Congress identity through 2026.
Who was affected
B.P. Koirala and cabinet ministers who were imprisoned. All 11 million Nepalis denied democratic rights for 28 years. Hundreds of political activists who fled to India. Nepal's civil society organisations that were banned.
Verification
verified
Editorial status
approved
Fact sensitivity
Level 1 of 5
Last updated
29 May 2026