NONGSTOIN: Frantin Kitbok Ryntathiang, the sitting MDC of Mawthengkut, West Khasi Hills passed away on Sunday night, a day after he joined HSPDP after quitting UDP.
Ryntathiang (42), a resident of Rinagdo, died after a cardiac arrest at around 10.30 pm at Riangdo CHC.
His funeral will be held on October 2 at 1 pm at Catholic cemetery, Riangdo Parish.
In Shillong, UDP has condoled the death of Ryntathiang and observed two minutes silence during a special condolence meeting held on Monday .
Both the HSPDP as well as UDP leaders have expressed shock over the sudden demise of Ryntathiang.
Legislator K P Pangniang, who is also the President HSPDP, West Khasi Hills, L G Nongsiej MDC Nongstoin, and Arkhelos Diengngan President FKJGP Mawshynrut circle expressed grief and condoled the death.
It was on Saturday that Ryntathiang along with his 142 supporters joined HSPDP at a function held at Mawthengkut and assured that that together with the local MLA Witting Mawsor, he would be able to usher in a new era of development at Mawshynrut area.
An announcement was also made by Pangniang on the occasion that Ryntathiang would be the HSPDP candidate for the upcoming district council election from Mawthengkut.
Born on September 26, 1971, Ryntathiang, a bachelor and eldest of three brothers, served as a teacher at St Thomas Mokoibari Nongjri UP School for ten years. He joined politics in 2007 as an active member of the UDP Mawthengkut unit. In 2008, he contested the Assembly election from Mawshynrut on a UDP ticket, but lost to Francis Pondit Sangma of the Congress.
In 2009, he registered his first win during the election to KHADC on a UDP ticket from Mawthengkut. Earlier this year, he contested in the Assembly election on a UDP ticket from Mawshynrut, losing to Witting Mawsor of the HSPDP.