SHILLONG: Former Minister Nitya Narayan Simchang (56) from the BJP passed away on Sunday at his residence at Dalu, West Garo Hills.
He is survived by his mother, wife and two daughters. His funeral will be held on Monday morning at Dalu.
Simchang, who had contested and won the Assembly polls on a BJP ticket in 1998, was accommodated in the ministry led by the UDP.
The other two BJP MLAs who were part of the UDP ministry were T.H. Rangad and A.L. Hek.
As a minister of state, Simchang was given independent charge of Forests when B.B. Lyngdoh was the chief minister.
He held the post of chairman of the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation during the tenure of E.K. Mawlong as the chief minister.
The trio – Simchang, Rangad and Hek – later withdrew support to the Mawlong ministry following the controversial Meghalaya House deal.
Simchang had unsuccessfully contested the 2003 Assembly polls from Dalu.
He was associated with many organizations besides being the president of Meghalaya Koch Association till his death.
Assembly Speaker A.T. Mondal commiserated the death of Simchang and recalled that he was his personal friend.
“We got elected together and were part of the ministry formed by late B.B. Lyngdoh,” Mondal said, adding that his demise has created a vacuum.
