Koirala, force behind Nepal’s new Constitution, passes away

Kathmandu, February 9

Nepal’s former Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, a moderate leader who had backed friendly ties with India and was instrumental in ushering in the new Constitution last year, died here early today.

The 79-year-old leader, who was Prime Minister from February 2014 to October 2015, died at his residence in Maharajgunj on the outskirts of capital Kathmandu at 12.50 am (local time) due to pneumonia, Nepali Congress general secretary Prakash Man Singh said.

He successfully manoeuvred the new charter through Nepal’s Constituent Assembly on September 20, 2015 — thus bringing to a happy conclusion the seven-year-long odyssey that had evaded a resolution.

Koirala, the president of the country’s biggest political party, the Nepali Congress, which has always maintained good relations with Indian political system, was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

His doctor Kabirnath Yogi said Koirala, who was earlier successfully treated for lung cancer in the US, died after he developed pneumonia after a bout of bronchitis’ infection due to change in the weather.

After assuming office, Koirala was tasked with formulating the long-delayed Constitution to bring stability to the nation after years of ethnic conflict and the abolition of the 239-year-old monarchy. — Agencies

Swaraj leads all-party delegation 

New Delhi: Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, accompanied by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Congress' Anand Sharma and CPI's Sitaram Yechury, left for Kathmandu to attend Koirala's funeral. Swaraj will also meet Nepalese PM KP Sharma Oli during her short visit, said Oli's foreign relations adviser Gopal Khanal. TNS