BIRATNAGAR: Following the demise of Nepali Congress president and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Koirala Niwas in Biratnagar is wearing a deserted look.

Local NC leaders and cadres are of the opinion that Koirala Niwas is now rudderless.

As all the members of the Koirala family have gone to Kathmandu to pay tribute to late Koirala, the cadres and leaders in Biratnagar are a frustrated and depressed lot.

Ramesh Adhikari, who went to pay his respect to Koirala at Koirala Niwas, said, "There is no one at his residence".

Prior to her death, late Nona Koirala had been taking care of Koirala Niwas. After her demise, GP Koirala himself had been shouldering the responsibility of looking after his residence with frequent trips to Biratnagar.

Bhimraj Naulakha, a childhood friend of late Girija Prasad Koirala, said that there was a chance of Koirala Niwas losing its aura and identity. "Who will lead the Koirala Niwas that always encouraged and motivated cadres?" Bhimraj asked.

The movement against the Rana regime had started from this residence that was set up by his father Krishna Prasad Koirala 150 years ago.

The youngest son of Krishna Prasad Koirala and Mohan Kumari, ascended to the chair of Prime Minister not only once but six times.

Among the Koiralas, only Dr Shekhar Koirala has been an active member of the Koirala residence embodying long political history of Nepal. Therefore, the duty to manage the Koirala Niwas has been transferred to him.

Late Krishna Prasad Koirala had purchased the 36-kattha plot of land where the Koirala Niwas stands. However, the land was equally distributed among his sons later.

Nepali Congress cadres fear that the history of the Koirala Niwas might be erased as grandsons and daughters of late Krishna Koirala have started selling the land.

Nine katthas of land belonging to late BP Koirala have already been sold to Birat Residence Service at Rs 50 million.

NC cadres complain that members of the Koirala family themselves are active in erasing the identity of the historical place of Koiralas.