India’s former Parliament Speaker P.A. Sangma, popularly called the “Titan of the Northeast” died of a heart attack at his residence in Delhi Friday.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of PA Sangma. “His down to earth personality and affable nature endeared him to many”, he said in a series of tweets.
Perhaps the greatest political leader in recent times to emerge from the Northeast PA Sangma was never defeated in his political career and also served as the Chief Minister from 1988 till 1990. “Saddened by his demise”, Modi tweeted. Subsequently, the trio formed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Lok Sabha MP Kalvakuntala Kavita, daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said that a strong voice from North Eastern has gone with Sangma’s sudden demise.
“His distinguished service as former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Union Cabinet Minister, Union Minister of State and Union Deputy Minister will always be remembered”.
Born on September 1, 1947 in village Chapahati in the picturesque West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya, Sangma grew up in the small tribal village and struggled hard to rise in life. “It is a shocking news as he was quite fit”. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his deep condolence over the death of Sangma. “The country has lost a great person who was a champion of North-East’s cause”, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar said.
The decision to adjourn the House was taken by speaker Hamid Ansari after leader of the House Arun Jaitley and leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad requested him to do so.
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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said Sangma was liked and admired by all political leaders irrespective of their political difference. He was also the NDA presidential candidate in 2012 and lost to Pranab Mukherjee. Expressing condolences to the bereaved members of Sangma’s family, Rosaiah said his death was an irreparable loss to the country and to the people of Meghalaya in particular.
