Nepal PM Sushil Koirala’s only possessions are three mobiles

Koirala is known in Nepal for his austere and simple lifestyle. Though he has been in active politics for over five decades, he never held any public post before being elected as the country’s 37th prime minister.

Updated on: Dec 9, 2014, 02:12:31 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The trappings of power and office don’t seem to have affected Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala as latest revelations of his property details suggest.

As per details of his moveable and immovable assets submitted on Monday to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), Koirala owns nothing more than three mobile phones.

“Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has only three mobile phone sets as his property,” the state-run Rastriya Samachar Samiti reported.

The 74-year-old had submitted the same details earlier in March this year, a month after assuming office, making him probably one of the poorest heads of government in the world.

Koirala is known in Nepal for his austere and simple lifestyle. Though he has been in active politics for over five decades, he never held any public post before being elected as the country’s 37th prime minister.

He doesn’t have any house, land, bank balance, shares in financial institutions, gold or silver ornaments. A bachelor, Koirala didn’t even have a bank account when he assumed office.

When he submitted his property details in March it was stated he would open one after receiving his first pay cheque. But whether he has done it or not is not known.

The prime minister also owns a watch and a gold ring, but since he is not sure whether the ring is made of gold or not he decided against mentioning it in his property details the last time.

Government officials and elected representatives in Nepal have to submit details of their as well as their relatives’ properties as per law.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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