Surya Bahadur Thapa
Surya Bahadur Thapa | |
|---|---|
सूर्य बहादुर थापा | |
Thapa in 2014 | |
| 24th Prime Minister of Nepal | |
| In office 5 June 2003 – 4 June 2004 | |
| Monarch | Gyanendra |
| Preceded by | Lokendra Bahadur Chand |
| Succeeded by | Sher Bahadur Deuba |
| In office 7 October 1997 – 15 April 1998 | |
| Monarch | Birendra |
| Preceded by | Lokendra Bahadur Chand |
| Succeeded by | Girija Prasad Koirala |
| In office 30 May 1979 – 12 July 1983 | |
| Monarch | Birendra |
| Preceded by | Kirti Nidhi Bista |
| Succeeded by | Lokendra Bahadur Chand |
| In office 26 January 1965 – 7 April 1969 | |
| Monarch | Mahendra |
| Preceded by | Tulsi Giri |
| Succeeded by | Kirti Nidhi Bista |
| In office 23 December 1963 – 26 February 1964 | |
| Monarch | Mahendra |
| Preceded by | Tulsi Giri |
| Succeeded by | Tulsi Giri |
| Acting 11 April 1955 – 14 April 1955 | |
| Monarch | Mahendra |
| Preceded by | Matrika Prasad Koirala |
| Succeeded by | King Mahendra |
| 3rd Speaker of the Pratinidhi Sabha | |
| In office 1962–1963 | |
| Monarch | Birendra |
| Preceded by | Bal Chandra Sharma |
| Succeeded by | Bishwa Bandhu Thapa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 March 1928 |
| Died | 15 April 2015 (aged 87) |
| Party | Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Janashakti Party |
| Alma mater | Ewing Christian College, Allahabad University |
Surya Bahadur Thapa (Nepali: सूर्य बहादुर थापा; 21 March 1928 – 15 April 2015) was a Nepali politician and a five-time Prime Minister of Nepal. He served under three different kings in a political career lasting more than 50 years.
Thapa was selected as a member of advisory council in 1958 and was elected as the chairperson. Later he was appointed to the Upper house in 1959 and appointed chair of the Council of Ministers from 1963 to 1964. He went on to serve four terms: 1965–69, 1979–83, 1997–98, and again in 2003 before leaving Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in November 2004.
Surya Thapa was the first prime minister under the Panchayat System of Nepal. In his later years, he was a leader of RPP. He died on 15 April 2015 from respiratory failure while undergoing surgery.