NC leader Gopal Man Shrestha passes away

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) leader Gopal Man Shrestha has passed away. He was 83.

According to party Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma, Shrestha died while undergoing treatment for cancer at Helios Hospital in Lalitpur on Tuesday.

Shrestha was elected to the House of Representatives multiple times from Syangja. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister and handled various ministerial portfolios, including Physical Infrastructure and Transport; Forest and Soil Conservation; Industry, Commerce and Supplies; and Education.

Shrestha was a long-time ally of former party President Sher Bahadur Deuba. He served as Acting President of the then Nepali Congress (Democratic) formed by Deuba. However, he had left Deuba’s camp and joined the Special General Convention held in December.

NC President Gagan Kumar Thapa had recently announced plans to designate Shrestha as the party’s Senior Leader. However, the party’s Central Working Committee had yet to endorse the decision.

According to NC’s Central Party Office, Shrestha’s body will be kept at the party office in Sanepa from 8 to 11 am on Wednesday to allow party leaders and cadres to pay tributes. Shrestha will then be taken to Pashupatinath Aryaghat for cremation