Former Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koirala died aged 77

Former Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koirala died aged 77 Tuesday in Kathmandu after suffering from pneumonia.

Announcing the death that took place at 1 a.m. (local time) his doctor Kabirnath Yogi said Koirala battled chronic bronchitis and other illnesses lately and last week he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Yogi is an associate professor at Kathmandu’s Teaching Hospital. He said the leader of centrist Nepali Congress party was showing improvement yesterday but at about 11 p.m. his condition suddenly deteriorated.

Nepali Congress is the biggest political party in the country and Koirala was tasked as premier with writing the new constitution to transform Nepal to a democratic republic from a Hindu monarchy.

The constitution was adopted in September and Koirala lost his bid to K.P. Sharma Oli for a second term.

Oli said, “He made an extraordinary contribution to Nepali politics… All Nepalis will remember his role in promulgating a constitution (and) establishing a federal democratic republic.”

After the adoption of new constitution the country has been in turmoil with protests by ethnic Madhesi community saying their desire has not been addressed.

Koirala dominated Nepali Congress for past six decades and he has produced four prime ministers in the past.

Koirala never married.