KATHMANDU: Former minister and leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Fatte Singh Tharu, has passed away at the age of 87.

Leader Tharu, who was born around 1940 in Thapuwa village of Banke (now Baijanath Rural Municipality), passed away today (Thursday) due to a heart attack.

He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Western Hospital in Nepalgunj, according to RPP Joint General Secretary Rishiraj Devkota.

Devkota added that Tharu’s cremation will take place on Friday at Sidhaniyaghat on the Rapti River.

According to RPP leader Tej Bikram Shah, Tharu was elected as a member of the Rastriya Panchayat in 1981 and 1986.

Later, in 1994, he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Banke Constituency No. 3.

Over his political career, Tharu served as a minister seven times, holding key portfolios including Education, Communications, Agriculture, Defense, Industry, and Commerce.

His political journey began in 1966 when he was elected as the Pradhan Pancha (village head) of Hasnapur Village Panchayat in Banke.

He also went on to serve as the Chairman of the Banke District Panchayat three times.

Leader Tharu is survived by his two wives and four children.