Nearly 60 years of involvement in mainstream politics, Koirala is highly regarded by his party members for his immaculate political career and personal sacrifices.

Born to Bodh Prasad and Kuminidi in 1939, young Koirala began his political career in 1954 following the footsteps of the visionary NC founding leader BP Koirala. He was inspired by the social-democratic principles adopted by NC. After the royal takeover in 1960, he went in political exile in India, where he remained for 16 years.

During the exile years, Koirala was the editor of the NC mouthpiece ‘Tarun’. Since 1979, Koirala has been a member of the Central Working Committee of the party. He was appointed the party’s general secretary in 1996 and vice president in 1998.

In 2001, Koirala was defeated by party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba in the race for parliamentary leadership. In 2008, Koirala was appointed acting president of the NC by late Girija Prasad Koirala, the former party president.

After serving two years as the NC acting president, the party’s 12th general convention in 2010 elected Koirala as the party president.

NC Central Committee leader and close aide to Koirala, Anand Dhungana, says that Koirala has always been a man of integrity and clean image.

“He has never advocated himself for any position in the party or government. He never showed greed for power, even when he was offered important positions within the party and government,” Dhungana says. “Koirala has always asked his party members to promote the party’s name and not the individual leader. Even during election campaigns, he asked the voters to vote for the party.”

In the second Constituent Assembly (CA) election, Koirala secured victory in both constituencies—Chitwan-4 and Banke-3—he had contested. Koirala’s supporters say he has always kept a distance from self indulgence and individual interest and committed his life for the country and democracy.