The Nepali Congress has expressed sorrow over the death of senior party leader and former minister Amod Prasad Upadhyay, who died on Saturday while undergoing cancer treatment at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu. He was 91.

A meeting of the party’s central working committee paid tribute to Upadhyay, describing him as a lifelong fighter for democracy, and extended condolences to his family.

Upadhyay was nominated to the National Assembly in 1991 and was elected to the House of Representatives from Morang constituency 1 in a by-election held on December 9, 1999. He served as minister for education and sports in 1999 and later became a member of the reinstated parliament following the 2006 people’s movement. He was also elected to the Constituent Assembly from the same constituency in 2008.

Within the party, Upadhyay was known as a calm and intellectual figure. He chaired the party’s central disciplinary committee in 2012. During his political career, he was imprisoned several times and also lived in exile.

The party has announced a three-day mourning period, with flags at half-mast at all central, provincial and district offices. All party offices will remain closed on December 16. Condolence books will be kept for 13 days, and a memorial meeting will be held in Morang on the 13th day of the passing, read a press statement issued by the party on Monday.

He will be cremated at Pashupati Aryaghat on Monday, the party said.