Veteran Congress leader Kyndiah passes away at 87

Shillong: A veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Paty Ripple Kyndiah passed away at a hospital here following cardiac arrest. He was 87.

The octogenarian leader was admitted at the Bethany Hospital last night and he died just before midnight, family members said.

Born on May 7, 1928, Kyndiah was survived by his two daughters, three sons and a number of grandchildren. He retired from active politics in 2009.

The former Minister of Tribal Affairs had also been elected to the state Legislative Assembly from 1975 to 1988 where he had served as the Speaker, Acting Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition.

He had also served as Governor of Mizoram in 1993 before he contested the Lok Sabha elections and won three times since 1998.

Kyndiah had also authored books such as 'Jawaharlal Nehru: The Thinking Dynamo', 'Meghalaya: Yesterday and Today', 'Mizo Freedom fighters, Pillars of Mizo society besides others.