Prime Minister Sushil Koirala draped his body with the national flag at the Dasharath Stadium, where his body was kept for people to pay him last tributes. Earlier, Thapa's body was kept at the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) office in Chabahil for party members to pay him last tributes.
Late leader Thapa, who is the founding leader of RPP, passed away while receiving treatment for stomach cancer at Medanta Hospital in New Delhi. His body was flown to Kathmandu on Thursday via Indian Air Force aircraft and was kept at his home in Maligaun.
A cabinet meeting on Thursday had announced a public holiday for Friday and had directed all government offices and Nepali missions abroad to fly the national flag at half mast in Thapa's honor. Thapa, who became prime minster of Nepal for five times, was the eldest CA member.
Chairman of CPN-Maoist Mohan Baidya, former speaker of the House of Representatives Tara Nath Ranabhat and a large number of RPP leaders and cadres had paid their last tributes to late Thapa.
Likewise, top leaders from various political parties, including UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) Chairman Kamal Thapa, Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subas Nembang, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam, among others, had reached the Dasharath Stadium in the afternoon to pay him last respects. A large number of party cadres and ordinary public were seen queuing up to pay him last respects at the Dasharath Stadium.
Thapa's body was then taken to Pashuapati Aryaghat through Ratnapark, Jamal, Gyaneshwar and Gaushala. Cabinet ministers, leaders from various political parties, relatives and ordinary public had reached Aryaghat.
A leader known for his ability to make decisions even at critical junctures, Thapa proved himself relevant under the party-less Panchayat system, after the restoration of democracy in 1990 and even after Nepal became a republic.
Late Thapa became head of government three times during the Panchayat era when kings held absolute power. Forming a pro-monarchy party, he remained active in politics after the restoration of democracy in 1990 and became prime minister twice under multiparty democracy. He headed governments for altogether 11 years and last stepped down from the post of prime minister in 2005.
Meanwhile, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has expressed condolence over the demise of Thapa.
While adding that Thapa's demise had caused a big loss the country, which is passing through a political transition, Dr Yadav said Thapa was a seasoned and experienced politician.
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