ekantipur.com/ KATHMANDU, Mar 20 - Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala passed away at 12: 10 p.m. on Saturday, according to NC central leader and Irrigation Minister Bal Krishna Khand. He was 86.

The NC leaders and the doctors involved in his treatment confirmed Koirala's death following an emergency central committee meeting of the party at 1:45 at his daughter Sujata's residence in Mandikatar, where the NC President breathed his last.

He will be cremated tomorrow.

A huge number of general public, media persons and television crews have thronged Koirala's residence and have been reporting live from there.

Koirala's body will be kept at Dashrath Stadium tomorrow for offering the last tribute after which a body procession will be carried out from Dashrath Stadium before taking his body to Pashupati Aryaghat for the last rites. His body will be cremated as per the Hindu rituals.

A separate intensive care unit was set up at Mandikatar following further deterioration of his health yesterday.

The former Prime Minister and the NC President Koirala, who was credited with playing a crucial role in Nepal's peace process and democratic movement, was taking rest at the residence of his only daughter Sujata following his discharge from Sahid Gangalal Heart Centre, Bansbari on Wednesday.

Koirala's health condition was further worsened this morning and went unconscious. He was kept under constant supply of oxygen for the past few weeks.

Koirala was rushed to the hospital in Bansbari on Sunday evening after the level of hemoglobin in his blood dropped and complained difficulties in breathing.

Koirala's dateline

 Born in 1925 to late Krishna Prasad Koirala and Divya Koirala in Bihar when they were in exile, Koirala started his political career joining the Indian Freedom Struggle and the historical revolution against autocratic Rana regime by organising the first labour's Movement in Biratnagar Jute Mill in 1947-48.

He was active in politics for over sixty years and was a pioneer of the Nepali labour movement.

Koirala became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Nepal in 1991-1994. He was served four non-consecutive terms as the Prime Minister of the country.

During Panchayat regime, he was exiled in India until his return to Nepal in 1979.

First term

Koirala was elected as a Member of Parliament from Morang-1 and Sunsari-5 constituencies in 1991. Later, he was appointed as prime minister by late King Birendra.

Second term

Following the collapse of Surya Bahadur Thapa led coalition government; Koirala took over as Prime Minister from Thapa. Koirala first headed a Nepali Congress minority government until 1998 after which he headed a three-party coalition government with the CPN-UML and the Nepal Sadhbhawana Party.

Third term

Koirala became Prime Minister in 2000 for his third term following the resignation of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.

Following the Royal Palace massacre, Koirala resigned in July 2001 after being criticised for his perceived inability to handle the crisis.

Fourth term

Koirala was selected to become prime minister by the leaders of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) on April 24, 2006 following the reinstatement of the House of Representatives.

Koirala was re-elected as Prime Minister to head a new government composed of the SPA and the CPN (Maoist) On April 1, 2007,

Constituent Assembly election, 2008

Nepali Congress lost its standing majority control in CA election in 2008. It holds 110 seats.

On January 8, 2010, the much anticipated High Level Political Mechanism was formed under Koirala's leadership.

Recent health limited Koirala's involvement in the Nepali politics.

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