By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Former Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr Flinder Anderson Khonglam, breathed his last on Tuesday evening at Bethany Hospital.
Dr Khonglam was taken to Bethany Hospital after he became unconscious and was later declared dead at around 6.30 pm.
Soon after the news of Dr Khonglam’s demise was heard, relatives, friends and former colleagues including Government officials reached his residence at Laitumkhrah to express their condolences to the bereaved family.
Dr Khonglam, a medical doctor by training had served the profession in various capacities. He had worked at Nazareth Hospital and other Government hospitals as well.
Dr Khonglam was suffering from diabetes and had suffered a diabetic stroke once.
Relatives of the former Chief Minister informed that he was not feeling well since morning and in the evening he fainted after which he was taken to Bethany Hospital where was declared dead.
The eldest among eight children, Dr Khonglam was born to Richard N Lyngdoh and L Khonglam on February 6, 1945 at Malki, Shillong.
He will be remembered as the first independent legislator in the country who became the Chief Minister of the State in 2002, backed by PA Sangma’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
It merits mention that Khonglam, represented Sohra constituency for nearly 20 years. He contested in 1978 from the HSPDP, but lost. In 1983 he won the election from the same party. In 1988, Khonglam who contested from the Congress and tasted defeat.
However, from 1993 onwards he won for three consecutive terms, twice as an Independent candidate and another win in 2003 on the HSPDP ticket.
However, he could not repeat the win in 2008 where he was defeated by another medical doctor, Dr PW Khongjee of the Congress.
The BJP state unit was the first to condole the death of Dr Khonglam, stating that the state has lost a tall leader.