Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the passing away of former Nepal prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa.
"PM has expressed grief on the passing away of former Nepal PM Shri Surya Bahadur Thapa and extended condolences to Shri Thapa's family," Prime Minister Modi's official Twitter handle said.
Thapa, who passed away at Medanta Hospital today, was suffering from cancer.
He served as Prime Minister of Nepal for five terms, under three different Kings, in a political career spanning more than 50 years.
In 1966, he was appointed Prime Minister under the modified constitution of Nepal. He was responsible for expanding the coverage of the Constitution of 1962 and promulgated 2nd amendment to make it "people-oriented".
In 1994 mid-term election, Mr. Thapa was democratically elected to the House of Representatives from his home town.
Elected Prime Minister of Nepal for the third time by the House of Representatives, Surya Bahadur Thapa led a coalition government in October 1997.