Koirala's residence, located in the old settlement of Biratnagar, was no ordinary house. It was a headquarters for the protesters, a workshop for strategy, and a place to weave dreams of democracy. The same house was set on fire by protesters on 24 Bhadra. Even though the house burned down, the history it carried has not been erased.

From Biratnagar's jute mill to Kathmandu's Sundarijal jail, from Delhi's streets to Baluwatar's powerhouse. Modern Nepal's politics seems incomplete without the Koirala family.

BP Koirala, Matrika Prasad Koirala and Girija Prasad Koirala, three brothers - three prime ministers. This house that raised and grew the Congress was like a haven for democrats. It was not just a house, but a political institution, which Shekhar Koirala is challenged to protect. 

Of course, from the Koirala family, Shekhar, BP's son Shashank and Girija Prasad's daughter Sujata Koirala are in central politics. In terms of legacy, Shekhar does not have the same benefits as Shashank and Sujata, because they are the children of BP and Girija Prasad Koirala, but their activism is not like Shekhar's. Shashank and Sujata are out of the parliamentary competition this time. 

Shashank had been winning elections from Nawalpur since the 2064 Constituent Assembly. This time too, he was an aspirant. But after the Congress leadership changed in the special general convention, he did not get a ticket. Sujata, who became a member of the Constituent Assembly through the proportional system in 2070, contested from Morang-2 in 2079. But this time, Minendra Rijal is the candidate from the Congress. Therefore, the responsibility of carrying on the legacy of the Koirala family now lies solely on the shoulders of Shekhar. 

Born on 9 Bhadra 2007 in Biratnagar, Shekhar, who is now 75 years old, was born in Biratnagar. His political rise was not a sudden event but the result of a long transition. Shekhar's political journey began in 2027 from the Nepal Students' Union. He joined the Congress in 2028. But in between, he became active in the medical field.

After returning to Nepal, Shekhar, who completed his MBBS and MD from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, India, served at Bir Hospital and Koshi Zonal Hospital. He played a leading role in the establishment of the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan. Later, he was also given the responsibility of Vice-Chancellor.

Shekhar has faced many ups and downs since entering parliamentary politics. In the first Constituent Assembly election of 2064, he was defeated by Bijay Kumar Gachhadar of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum in Morang-7. After Gachhadar left Morang-7 after winning two constituencies, Shekhar won in the by-election held in 2065. He also won in the second Constituent Assembly election of 2070. At that time, he had a tough competition with the same Gachhadar.

In the 2074 House of Representatives election, he was narrowly defeated by Lalbabu Pandit of UML. In 2079, he became a member of the House of Representatives by defeating Pandit, avenging his previous defeat. In the upcoming election, he is a candidate from Morang-6.

Shekhar is known as a reformist leader within the party. He had filed his candidacy for the post of President in the 14th General Convention of the Nepali Congress. But he was defeated by Sher Bahadur Deuba. While holding different views within the party, he made public 12-point allegations against the Deuba leadership 7 months after the general convention and was absent from some important meetings, which brought the differences within the party to the surface. He has been drawn into controversies from time to time, openly criticizing the government led by his own party. However, Koirala is known as a leader committed to medical education, democratic practice and the peace process.

‘The combination of a doctor’s background and political legacy has established him as an influential figure in contemporary Nepali politics,’ says Deepak Chapagain, the president of Biratnagar Metropolitan City, who is close to him.

Shekhar is from Morang-2, Biratnagar Bazaar, where he is contesting. Biratnagar is an industrial city, and is also the ‘epicenter’ of Nepali politics. The workers’ movement that started at the Biratnagar jute mill in 2003 shook the foundations of the 104-year-old Rana regime. The movement led by BP Koirala in 2007 gave the Nepali people the confidence that ‘we too can change the ruler’ for the first time. 

The local environment of Biratnagar has always been rebellious and ideological. The political debates that took place in every tea shop in Gudri, Bargachhi, Mahendra Chowk and Roadshesh Chowk used to challenge the power in Kathmandu. The presence of the Koirala family made Biratnagar the center of politics. Due to the open border with India and increasing urbanization, political awareness spread rapidly here. As a result, Biratnagar remained at the center in 036, 042, 046 and every subsequent turn. Even today, the smell of revolution can be heard in the dust of Biratnagar and the echo of history can be heard on the walls of the Koirala residence.

The characters of Nepathya

When discussing the Koirala family, the names of BP, Matrika and Girija Prasad are often mentioned. However, Keshav Prasad Koirala was the character who sacrificed his life to build this empire by staying in ‘Nepathya’. He is BP’s brother and Shekhar’s father.

Whenever BP was in jail or in exile, the burden of the family and the responsibility of Biratnagar's farming and social relations fell on Keshav Prasad's shoulders. Shekhar had made a touching incident public after the 14th Congress of the Nepali Congress. He had discussed the letters BP had written to his father Keshav Prasad from Sundarijal jail. In those letters, BP had not only asked about the well-being of the family, but had also made it clear what a revolutionary leader expected from his family. BP had written, 'Keshav, I am drawing the future of the country here in the dungeon, you should not worry about the house. Your patience is my greatest strength.'

According to Shekhar, those letters are 'documents' of the Koirala family's political loyalty, which teach us to rise above our positions and die for the country and ideas. Keshav Prasad never aspired to power, but instead stood by his brothers' political journey as a 'stand-in'. 

Shekhar also played a role 'behind the scenes' in various political developments. His role in the 2062/63 Jana Andolan and the subsequent peace process became 'decisive'. Shekhar, who stood in favor of dialogue and consensus during the then Maoist armed rebellion, played a role 'behind the scenes' in the 12-point understanding between the Maoists and seven parties on 7 Mangsir 2062. 

At that time, becoming a confidant of Girija Prasad, he worked as a 'bridge' between the then rebel Maoists and the parliamentary parties. At that time, Shekhar used his 'medical' card strategically while holding secret conversations with the then Maoist leaders Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Baburam Bhattarai in various places in Delhi.

Since he was a doctor, the security agencies did not suspect much about his movements. But he was performing political 'surgery' on the country under the guise of a 'stethoscope'. While preparing the draft of the 12-point understanding, Shekhar had held an all-night dialogue to resolve the misunderstanding between the Indian bureaucracy and the then Maoist leadership.

During the peace process, when the Maoist leaders were preparing to go public for the first time, Shekhar had mediated to resolve the distrust between them and the state machinery. 

The path ahead 

Shekhar led the 'non-establishment' faction within the party until a few months ago. During the special general convention last month, he showed strategic flexibility and collaborated with the establishment group. Having almost rejected the leadership of Gagan Kumar Thapa, he is finally seeking votes in Morang-6 carrying a ticket signed by the same Thapa. After the special general convention, two questions have arisen before him - first, will he now clearly lead an alternative stream or return to consensual politics? Second, how will he link Koirala's legacy with the current Congress? 

Being a son of BP, Shashank has ‘sentimental’ power. But he is seen in a comparatively less active and coordinating role. Sujata has nothing except Girija Prasad’s legacy. The unity or competition between these three Koiralas can affect the future of the Congress. But Shekhar has succeeded in introducing himself as a ‘leader with an agenda for change’ rather than ‘Koirala’s son or nephew’.

The road ahead for Shekhar is not easy. On the one hand, he has to preserve the ‘golden history’ of the Koirala family, and on the other hand, he has to attract the new generation to the Congress in the changing political environment. However, he has failed in the recently concluded special general convention.