KATHMANDU, Feb 10: Former prime minister and Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala passed away early on Tuesday. He was 78.
He breathed his last at his Maharajgunj residence at 12:50 a.m. Koirala, who had survived cancer for long, died of pneumonia. NC leaders and cadres and the general public were taken aback by news of his sudden death, as he had not been under any serious medical treatment and was only having a bed rest for fever.
“His condition was not so worrisome as he had been eating and talking until Monday morning and was he willing to participate in the party's district conventions,” said Pradip Parajuli, secretary of the NC.
According to a family source, Koirala's last word were 'I understand', spoken in response to his personal physician's request to take him to hospital for intensive care.
The government has announced a public holiday for Wednesday in tribute to its former executive head. Koirala's government will be remembered for successfully promulgating the new constitution of the country through a constituent assembly.
“The government has decided to accord Koirala state honors during his funeral, and there will be three days of mourning, with the national flag at half mast,” said Minister for Law and Justice Agni Kharel following an emergency cabinet meeting, Tuesday.
The last rites are scheduled for today (Wednesday) at Pashupati Aryaghat. The funeral procession will begin from Dasarath Stadium in the afternoon. Koirala's mortal remains were kept at the NC party office at Sanepa and later brought to the stadium for offering of tributes by the public. At the stadium, Prime Minister KP Oli draped the body with the national flag. Similarly President Bidya Bhandari, leaders of various political parties, ministers, heads of constitutional bodies, diplomats, an all-party delegation of Indian leaders and others also paid tributes to the late Koirala.
The demise of the NC president has come just ahead of the party's general convention, which is scheduled for March first week. Koirala was expected to run for re-election. His demise has left the party establishment in a fix as its leaders are divided over who should take his mantle.
A meeting of the party has decided to defer all programs relating to the convention, except for the final date of the general convention itself. NC has also nominated Vice President Ram Chandra Paudel as acting president of the party.