Koirala (78) was a major contributor in the drafting Nepal's first democratic constitution that, its authors hoped, would take the Himalayan country closer to stability and peace after years of conflict and the abolition of a 239-year-old monarchy. His death could make the granting of greater rights to ethnic minority groups under the Constitution less likely as he favoured a more conciliatory approach on the issues.

End of the Koirala dynasty

It may also end the Koirala dynasty that controlled the Nepali Congress party for most of the past six decades and produced four Prime Ministers.

Nepal, home to 28 million people, has been in turmoil since the new Constitution was adopted in September as some ethnic groups often launched deadly protests against the charter saying it failed to give them a greater role in government.

A simple and honest leader

“We have lost a simple and honest leader at a time when many politicians are selfish and corrupt,” said mourner Ramesh Dahal on the banks of the Bagmati River.

Koirala, head of the centrist Nepali Congress party, the biggest opposition group in parliament, spent years in India and had close ties with Indian leaders. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj flew in and paid homage to the leader on Tuesday.