SHILLONG: Former minister and four-time MDC Founder Strong Cajee passed away following a cardiac arrest in CMC, Vellore on Tuesday morning. He was 55.
Cajee, born on January 10, 1960, is survived by his wife, three daughters and three sons.
His mortal remains will be brought to the state on Wednesday and will be laid to rest on November 13 at Church of God Ecclesia at Mawlai Nongkwar.
Cajee has been active in politics since 1989 when he made it to the KHADC on a Hill People’s Union (HPU) ticket. He remained as MDC till 2009.
He had been elected as KHADC member for four consecutive terms and also held the rank of Executive Member and was also elevated to the post of Deputy Chief Executive Member (CEM). He was the first Congress MLA to be elected from Mawlai in 2008 as the seat in past was held by regional parties.
He was inducted as Minister in the Mukul Sangma-led cabinet in April, 2010 and was allotted the plum Urban Affairs portfolio. In June, 2011, Cajee along with Prestone Tyngsong, F W Momin and Augustine Marak were dropped from the ministry following their demand for change of leadership.
While Tynong secured cabinet berth later, Cajee was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in October, 2011.
In 2013 Assembly polls, he unsuccessfully contested from Mawlai on Congress ticket. Sounder Strong Cajee, his brother informed that Founder was the patron of Mawlai College, leader of Meghalaya Students Union (MSU) and the Synjuk Samla Iewrynghep among others.
While he served as an MLA he also established the Mawlai Secretariat or the Greater Mawlai Coordination Committee for development.
It was set up with the intention to convene a meeting of the Dorbar Shnong, youth gatherings , NGOs meeting etc.
“Along with me, we formed the People Democratic Movement in the year 1997 which was later dissolved,” Sounder said. Founder is remembered as a politician who had initiated a peace rally in the year 2002 at Mawlai at the heights of the violence perpetuated by the banned HNLC.
Earlier in the day, Home Minister Roshan Warjri, Deputy Chief Executive Member of KHADC PT Sawkmie, Archbishop Dominic Jala among others visited the residence of Founder.
