PM advised to work from Baluwatar

  • The PM has only been signing documents, issuing directions and holding consultations in Baluwatar

Kathmandu, November 5

An estimated 1,000 guests attended an annual tea reception hosted by Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun today, but Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli did not attend the event as he was advised by doctors not to attend public events.

PM Oli was discharged from Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu on Friday.

He was admitted to the hospital on October 29 following chest infection and blood sugar level fluctuation.

He was treated by a team of doctors led by cardiologist Dr Arun Kumar Sayami for over a week.

Dr Sayami, who attended the reception, was talking about PM Oli’s health with other invitees, including Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leader Surendra Pandey and former general Rajendra Thapa. “I have told both the PM and NCP Co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal that the PM should carry out 75 per cent of his work from his residence and avoid public programmes,” Dr Sayami said.

Dr Sayami, who had also treated former prime minister Manmohan Adhikari, said Oli should avoid the mistakes made by Adhikari, who used to attend public events despite poor health.

“PM Oli did not care about his health and offered tika to the public at Baluwatar for extended hours during Dashain.He should not do this now,” Dr Sayami told the group.

The PM’s Press Adviser Kundan Aryal told THT the PM would not attend public programmes for some time as advised by doctors. “He has only been signing documents, issuing directions and holding consultations in Baluwatar,” he said. “We have also reduced the number of meetings. The urgent ones are held at Baluwatar itself,” said Aryal.

A minister told THT that PM Oli’s health was improving and he would fully recover after the Chhath festival.

Oli had also not attended a tea reception organised by his party on October 27. The Cabinet has also not met since October 28. The meeting lasted just 10 minutes due to the PM’s poor health.

The office of the vice-president had invited 2,000 guests. More than 1,000 attended the event organised on the occasion of Tihar and Chhath festivals and Nepal Sambat 1139.

Another notable absentee was Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara. Former PM Baburam Bhattarai and Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra were also absent.