KATHMANDU, March 2: Former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and senior communist leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari has passed away on Saturday evening. He was 82.
Adhikari’s body will be kept at the central party office of Nepal Communist Party in Dhumbarahi from 9 am to 12 pm for condolence tomorrow, according to a Facebook status posted by leader Krishna Gopal Shrestha.
He succumbed to his illness while undergoing treatment at Dhumbarahi-based HAMS Hospital.
Adhikari's body being kept at Dhumbarahi for condolence
“Senior communist leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari is no more. The atmosphere of the hospital is grief-stricken,” said Mahesh Bista, Adhikari’s aide.
Adhikari, who was admitted to the hospital after he complained of chest pain and respiratory problems 16 days ago, had been on a ventilator at the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital.
Adhikari had earned popularity by introducing people-orientated programs such as senior citizen allowance and ‘Let’s build our village on our own,’ during his tenure as the finance minister in the nine-month government led by former Prime Minister Manamohan Adhikari in 2051 BS.
Adhikari had introduced maternity allowance for the first time in Nepal when he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance in 2061 BS.
Two-time deputy prime minister and four-time finance minister, Adhikari is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Adhikari had served the party in his capacities as parliamentary party’s deputy leader, party’s chief whip including department heads of finance, industry, among others.
