Shekhar Chandra Thapa, Minister of Forests and Environment of Province 1 and provincial assembly member candidate of the Nepali Congress from Morang-3 is no longer with us. He was 58. He fell ill soon after his candidacy for the recently concluded election was confirmed, and he passed away just a few days after filing his nomination. Born in Morang, Thapa graduated from Durbar High School in Kathmandu. Since then, he made a name for himself in politics. He first got into politics as the Deputy Secretary of Nepali Congress-Morang. He was also the personal secretary to former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala. He also contested the Constituent Assembly election in 2013, but he lost to CPN-UML leader Chandi Rai. “We were together in every election as far as I can remember,” says Dila Sangraula of the Nepali Congress. Thapa was previously elected as one of the members of the Provincial Assembly through the proportional system in the 2017’s election, but this time he was up for candidacy through the first-past-the-post system. Sangraula says that Thapa was quite tense about the recently concluded election. He wanted to be among his supporters but he hadn’t been keeping too well and couldn’t be actively involved in the election campaigns.

On Oct 9, Thapa complained of uneasiness and was taken to Biratnagar-based Nobel Hospital. He tested positive for dengue, pneumonia, and piles. He was then airlifted to Kathmandu on Oct 13 for further treatment. After almost a month-long treatment at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu, he returned to Biratnagar. On Nov 7, a day after he filed his nomination for the election, he was again admitted to Nobel Hospital in Biratnagar as he had respiratory problems. It was here that he passed away two days later on Nov 9.

Chief Minister Rajendra Kumar Rai of Province 1 expressed his sorrow. PM Deuba also extended his condolences to the family. The Election Commission announced that it would carry on with the provincial election in Morang as planned, with Man Bahadur Limbu replacing Thapa. Sangraula of the Nepali Congress says Thapa had contributed a lot during his time with the party—he was a pillar of strength and support. But Thapa still had a lot to do and his wife is determined to carry out his wishes as one of the members of the party. Besides his wife, he leaves behind a son and a daughter. Birth: 1964  Death: 9 Nov 2022