Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has traveled to Singapore for treatment, where he is expected to remain for about a month due to lengthy neck therapy. The therapy is for a nerve injury he sustained in his neck during an attack at his residence on September 9.
Due to his prolonged absence for medical reasons, Deuba has designated Nepali Congress Vice-President Purna Bahadur Khadka as the 'acting president'. This appointment was announced at the start of the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting on October 14. The duration of Khadka's term is unclear, but the use of the term 'acting president' suggests it is temporary, lasting until Deuba's recovery and return. Despite his health issues, sources close to Deuba indicate he remains confident in his prospects of becoming the Prime Minister again if the House of Representatives (HoR) is reinstated.
Diplomatic passport controversy
Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, who was also injured in the September 9 attack, left for Singapore on Monday night via a flight of Singapore Airlines. Their diplomatic passports were urgently issued by using a 'mobile kit' on October 19—a public holiday (Constitution Day)—because their previous passports were destroyed in the fire at their residence during the attack.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki reportedly questioned the Foreign Ministry officials about the controversial issuance of diplomatic passports on a public holiday and at an undisclosed location. Officials clarified that Deuba, as a former Prime Minister, and Arzu, as a former foreign minister, are legally entitled to diplomatic passports. They also explained that the Department of Passport operates as an essential service and remains open for urgent cases, even on public holidays.
The officials further noted that the Deuba couple was not the only instance of a mobile kit being used; the same service was provided to CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Jhalanath Khanal's wife, Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar, and son Nirbhik, at Kirtipur Hospital after their passports were also destroyed in the fire on September 9.
Prime Minister Karki was reportedly "convinced" that the decision to urgently issue the passports was appropriate, given the severity of Deuba's injuries and the potential difficulties the government would face if his health deteriorated due to a lack of timely treatment abroad.
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