Kathmandu, May 6 -- Leftist leader and litterateur Pradeep Nepal passed away on Tuesday afternoon while undergoing treatment at Norvic International Hospital in Kathmandu. He was 71.

According to hospital sources, Nepal had been admitted for several days and was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Monday after his condition deteriorated. He had long been suffering from Parkinson's disease, and in recent days had also developed pneumonia.

Nepal was Minister for Information and Communications in the government led by Manmohan Adhikari (1994-95), and later became Minister for Education and Sports in the 2006 interim government headed by Girija Prasad Koirala.

Although he had retreated from active politics in recent years, Nepal re...