Former Manipur Chief Minister and a member of the first Lok Sabha Rishang Keishing passed away on 22
nd Aug 2017.
The veteran Congress leader was 96. A Naga, he served as the Chief Minister of Manipur from 1980 to 1988 and from 1994 to 1997.
Keishing passed away due to multiple organ failure, doctors attending him at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) said.
He was hospitalised on July 1 after his health condition worsened.
He is survived by two sons and four daughters.
Keishing, who hailed from Bungpa village in Ukhrul district, was elected to the Lok Sabha in the first parliamentary elections held in 1952.
He had also represented Manipur in Rajya Sabha.
In Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh condoled the demise of Keishing, and described him as a “towering leader” from Manipur who believed in humanity, social harmony and clean politics.
Union Minister of State For Home Kiren Rijiju also expressed grief.
The Manipur government has declared that all government offices and educational institutions will be closed tomorrow as mark of respect to Keishing.
Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla expressed her sadness and condoled the demise of Keishing.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi also mourned Keishing’s demise.
A freedom fighter and member of India’s first parliament (1952-57), he retired from the Rajya Sabha as its oldest member in 2014 after serving two terms since being elected to the upper house in 2002.
As Manipur’s Chief Minister from 1980 to 1988 and 1995 to 1998, he had also escaped assassination attempts by the militants several times.
