Former Minister Amanda Prasad Upadhyaya Passes Away

Senior Nepali Congress leader and former minister Amanda Prasad Upadhyaya has passed away. He died while undergoing treatment for oral cancer at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu.

According to Nepali Congress leader and former Koshi Province Chief Minister Kedar Karki, Upadhyaya died on Saturday evening during treatment. A resident of Morang, he had been staying in Kathmandu recently for medical care.

Upadhyaya was elected twice as a Member of Parliament from Morang Constituency No. 1 (now No. 2). He won a by-election in 1999 and later served as Minister for Education.

In 1999, Girija Prasad Koirala won elections from both Morang and Sunsari. After Koirala left the Morang seat, Upadhyaya won the by-election. He also won the election to the First Constituent Assembly.

According to Congress leader Yadu Bista, Upadhyaya was the only Nepali Congress leader from Morang to win the First Constituent Assembly election in 2008. He lost in the Second Constituent Assembly election. After the death of his wife following that election, he gradually moved away from active politics.

Upadhyaya was known as a calm and intellectual leader. He believed democracy becomes stronger through direct communication with the people and was jailed several times during political movements.

Because of his simple lifestyle, he was popular among party workers. Journalist Kumod Adhikari said Upadhyaya never forgot people he met and always called them by name.

A resident of Aamagachhi, Morang, Upadhyaya was a trusted leader of Girija Prasad Koirala. He studied political science in India and is survived by two sons and a daughter.