Krishna Bahadur Mahara Retires From Active Politics Due to Health and Age

Kathmandu. Former Speaker and leader of the Communist Party of Nepal Krishna Bahadur Mahara has retired from active politics. Mahara announced his retirement from active politics by issuing a statement on Thursday. Talking briefly with Ratopati, he claimed that he was separating from active politics due to health and age rather than any dissatisfaction with the party. 'I have separated from all responsibilities rather than leaving the party. It is not due to any dissatisfaction with the party,' he said. Born on Asar 4, 2015 BS in a lower-class farmer family in Liwang, the headquarters of Rolpa, Mahara was active in leftist politics from the age of 20. He taught science for 12 years at Liwang Secondary School. Mahara, who entered leftist politics from 2036 BS, went underground in the Maoist armed movement from 2052 BS. Mahara's entire family went underground during the Maoist movement. Mahara was the coordinator of the Maoist team for talks with the government in 2058 BS and was a member and spokesperson of the talks team in 2060 BS. He was elected from Rolpa Constituency Number 2 in the 2048 BS general election from the then United Front. Elected as a Constituent Assembly member from Dang Constituency Number 3 in the first Constituent Assembly election of 2064 BS, he was considered a leader who gained many benefits within the party. He worked closely with Prachanda from the Communist Party of Nepal (Masal) to the Communist Party of Nepal. Mahara, considered a dignified and intellectual leader, became the Speaker on Falgun 25, 2074 BS. However, he was accused of sexual misconduct with a female employee of the parliament. On that accusation, he resigned from his post on Assoj 14, 2076 BS. It was the first such incident in the history of Nepal where a Speaker resigned from politics. After his resignation, he was sent to jail for some time for pre-trial detention. However, the Kathmandu District Court acquitted Mahara. Mahara, who was acquitted of sexual misconduct, was arrested in Assoj 2082 BS on charges of smuggling gold through electronic cigarettes (vape). While in jail for pre-trial detention, he was released on November 26, 2082 BS after posting bail of 2 million rupees by order of the Patan High Court. Recently, he has been arrested with every change of government. On Chaitra 26, 2082 BS, the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority filed a case against him in the Special Court in connection with the vape incident. The Akhtiyar has claimed a claim of 7 crore 78 lakh against Mahara. His son Rahul is also involved in the gold case. Mahara, 68, who suffers from a neurological disease, has ended his active politics after 48 years. Mahara's downward journey began in 2076 BS after achieving one political height after another. Mahara has two sons, Nirmal and Rahul, and two daughters, Pragati and Unnati.

Mahara's Background