Nepali Congress central committee member and former minister for general administration Keshab Kumar Budhathoki passed away on Monday. He was 80.

Budhathoki, who had been battling with prostate cancer, died in the course of treatment at the Birat Nursing Home in Biratnagar late on Monday, said Nepali Congress in a statement on Tuesday.

“This emergency meeting of the party’s central working committee expresses deep sorrow over the death of leader Keshab Kumar Budhathoki,” the statement read. “The party will always remember the important roles he played.”

The meeting has announced various programmes at the central, provincial and district levels for 13 days to pay tribute to the leader.

Budhathoki’s political journey, which spans over four decades, began in 1967 during the panchayat system as a student leader.

The Congress leader, who also became assistant minister during the panchayat system, was elected as a parliamentarian from Jhapa-7 in 1994 after the reinstatement of multiparty democracy in 1990. He served as the minister for general administration in 2016 under the Pushpa Kamal Dahal government.

The former miniser was quite active in social and development activities mainly in Koshi Province.

Budhathoki is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters and grandchildren.

His funeral rites will be performed in Kankai Mai river on Tuesday.

Pairavi Book House published his autobiography Aafno Aafno Sagarmatha edited by litterateur Krishna Dharabashi in 2022.