Nepal’s former Prime Minister and leader of the Nepali Congress, Sushil Koirala (78), passed away barely a few hours after the five month old economic blockade in Nepal finally ended. Mr. Koirala in September 2015 presided over the promulgation of the new constitution of Nepal which is criticised for being discriminatory by the pro-blockade activists, but he also played the crucial role of a dialogue partner to end the political crisis around the blockade. Mr. Koirala’s Premiership ended with the first election under the new constitution of Nepal in October 2015 which brought Kharga Prasad Oli as the next Prime Minister. With blockade, protests and ongoing violence, Nepal slid into the most difficult crisis in its history even as the change of guards took place.
Mr. Koirala, “Sushilda” to his friends and followers in the Nepali Congress, was a contrasting figure to Mr. Oli who is known for his frank and sometimes blunt communication methods. Yet as Mr. Oli became Prime Minister, he urgently required a suitably trustworthy channel to speak to the angry opposition led by the Madhesi protesters who belong to the plains of Nepal. Two months after the crisis began, it was Mr. Oli and Mr. Koirala came together to hold a dialogue with fellow Nepalis in the Tarai/Madhes region. Soon a new round of dialogue to end the crisis would begin.
Mr. Koirala returned from the U.S. on November 26 2015 after undergoing much needed treatment for his worsening lung condition. But within hours, the Madhesi leaders of United Madhesi Democratic Front (UMDF) reached his residence in Kathmandu and began talks which finally opened the doors for breakthrough with both New Delhi and Kathmandu.
Mr. Koirala who was the current patriarch of the leading political dynasty of Nepal came to the political scene following a family tradition which generated legendary figures including his cousin Girija Prasad Koirala who was Nepal’s Prime Minister following the overthrow of the monarchy in 2006. Though earlier overshadowed by the more famous Girija Prasad Koirala, “Sushilda” got his chance to lead Nepal finally in 2014 when he had to lead the Constituent Assembly (CA) in charge of framing the new democratic constitution of Nepal.
After extensions and delays by the Constituent Assembly, Mr. Koirala got all the major parties and groups of Nepal to agree on the basic structure of a constitution in the spring of 2015. However, the constitution became a trigger for the internal crisis of Nepal which impacted its ties with India.
With the departure of Sushil Koirala, the Koirala dynasty is now left in charge of Sujata Koirala, daughter of Girija Prasad Koirala and her relative Shekhar Koirala. It remains to be seen what will be the course of the Nepali Congress, the biggest liberal political party of Nepal without the older generation of the Koiralas.
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