The mortal remains of Nepali Congress senior leader Gopal Man Shrestha have been placed at the party’s central office in Sanepa for paying last respects.
Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa paid tribute to Shrestha by draping the party flag over his body.
Office-bearers, central committee members, and party workers have gathered at the Sanepa office to pay their respects.
However, leaders from the opposition faction within the Nepali Congress did not visit the central office in Sanepa to pay tribute to Shrestha.
According to a central member, although leaders from other parties arrived to pay their respects, leaders from his own party were absent.
Leaders including Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane, CPN-UML leader Pradeep Gyawali, Nepali Communist Party Coordinator and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden reached Sanepa to pay tribute to Shrestha.
“Outgoing acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka and leaders from the group led by him did not come to the central office in Sanepa to pay tribute to leader Shrestha,” the central member said. “Some leaders reportedly went to his residence after the body was taken home from the hospital and paid their respects there. We saw them posting photos on Facebook. What stopped them from coming to the central office?”
Outgoing Nepali Congress spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat posted a photo of himself paying tribute to Shrestha at his residence. The photo also showed leaders including Shashank Koirala, NP Saud, and Deepak Khadka.
Leader Shekhar Koirala also did not visit the central office to pay tribute to Shrestha, according to the central member.
Leader Min Bahadur Bishwakarma, however, said that he was heading to Pashupati Aryaghat for the final rites. “We are heading toward Pashupati Aryaghat. Some leaders went to Gopal Man dai’s house this morning to pay tribute, while some will come to Aryaghat. Perhaps they did not go to the party office because they did not want to go to three places,” he said.
The Nepali Congress held a special general convention in January. Then-party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and his faction was opposed to the special general convention.
The special general convention elected a new committee led by Gagan Thapa. The Supreme Court has recognized the special general convention, but the Deuba faction has again approached the court seeking a review of the decision.
Leaders say the internal differences within the Nepali Congress following the special general convention were reflected even in the tributes paid after Shrestha’s death.
