Nepali Congress (NC) leader Khum Bahadur Khadka died at New Delhi’s Apollo Hospital on Friday. He was 68. Khadka, who had earlier undergone kidney transplant, was suffering from multiple ailments. He was hospitalised a moth ago.

According to The Kathmandu Post, one of the influential leaders in the NC during the 90s and early 2000s, Khadka’s political career was stained after he was convicted by the Supreme Court on corruption charge in August, 2012. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined Rs9.47 million along with the confiscation of properties worth the same amount. The punishment was reduced after he surrendered before the Kathmandu District Court.

Khadka never redeemed his political career following the scandal, though his supporters within the party continued to hold him in reverence. 

“It was in Khadka’s nature to protect his supporters. This won him praise and accolade particularly from the youth members of the party,” said Puranjan Acharya, political analyst. “He was not an ideologue, but he wield a considerable amount of influence in the party, regardless of his public image.”

NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba expressed grief on Khadka’s death.

“Saddened by death of Nepali Congress leader and my friend Khum Bahadur Khadka who struggled hard for the democracy,” he said.

“It was in Khadka’s nature to protect his supporters. This won him praise and accolade particularly from the youth members of the party,” said Puranjan Acharya, political analyst. “He was not an ideologue, but he wield a considerable amount of influence in the party, regardless of his public image.”

Khadka who lived an exiled life in India with NC’s founding leader BP Koirala always remained close to the NC’s power circle after restoration of democracy in 1990. He was one of the close confidants of former NC president and prime minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, in the 90s. 

 Khadka held ministerial portfolios 12 times during the period of 1991 to 2001, including Home Ministry and Ministry of Physical Planning.

NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba expressed grief on Khadka’s death.

“Saddened by death of Nepali Congress leader and my friend Khum Bahadur Khadka who struggled hard for the democracy,” he said.