Nepal's ex-PM Koirala passes away

KATHMANDU: Former Prime Minister of Nepal and Nepali Congress (NC) leader Sushil Koirala passed away early morning on Tuesday. He was 76.

Koirala passed away at his residence in Maharajganj here. He had been suffering from pneumonia for the last few days. He was scheduled to inaugurate the Kathmandu district convention of the party on Monday but could not.

Prime Minister KP Oli, NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and other leaders have reached Maharajganj to pay final respect to Koirala. Koirala was competing with Deuba to retain his post in the party. The NC was to hold its convention next month.

Koirala fought for democracy in the erstwhile kingdom for six decades. He will be remembered the most for his contribution to promulgation of Nepal’s first constitution. He was Nepal’s 37th Prime Minister.