Leftist leader and litterateur Pradeep Nepal passed away on Tuesday afternoon while undergoing treatment at Norvic International Hospital in Kathmandu. He was 71.

According to hospital sources, Nepal had been admitted for several days and was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Monday after his condition deteriorated. He had long been suffering from Parkinson’s disease, and in recent days had also developed pneumonia.

Nepal was Minister for Information and Communications in the government led by Manmohan Adhikari (1994-95), and later became Minister for Education and Sports in the 2006 interim government headed by Girija Prasad Koirala.

Although he had retreated from active politics in recent years, Nepal remained a respected figure in both political and intellectual circles.

In addition to his political career, he was known in literary circles by the pen name Sanjaya Thapa. He authored over a dozen novels, including Barbarik, a work based on UML leader Madan Bhandari. His other notable titles include Ekkaisaun Shatabdiki Sumnima, Baghmareko Lalsalam, Deshko Khoji, and Deumaiko Kinar Ma.