HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Jan 7: Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Assam and former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha passed away on Wednesday at Silchar Medical College and Hospital following prolonged age-related illness. He was 94.
His death has drawn widespread tributes from across the political spectrum, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma leading the condolences.
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In a message posted on X, Prime Minister Modi expressed deep sorrow over Purkayastha’s demise, remembering him as a committed public servant who played a vital role in Assam’s political and social life.
The Prime Minister said Purkayastha’s dedication to public service and his contribution to strengthening the BJP in Assam would always be remembered, and extended condolences to his family and admirers.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described Purkayastha’s passing as a loss that leaves a void which can never be filled.
Recalling his long association with the veteran leader, Sarma said he would always cherish the guidance and lessons he received from him.
He noted that Purkayastha was known for his simplicity, values and unwavering commitment to sewa bhav, and that his life was dedicated to the welfare of displaced Hindu refugees, marginalised communities and the overall development of Assam.
Born in 1931 at Kamarkhal in Sylhet, Purkayastha began his public life by joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1951 and later played a key role in spreading its ideology across Assam and the Northeast, particularly in the Barak Valley.
With the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980, he became one of its founder members and emerged as a central organisational pillar in Assam.
He is widely regarded as the patriarch of the BJP in the state.
Purkayastha entered national electoral politics in 1991, when he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Silchar constituency.
He was re-elected in 1998 and again in 2009, and was known for consistently raising issues related to Assam and the Northeast in Parliament.
He served as Union Minister of State for Communications during the first Atal Bihari Vajpayee government between 1998 and 1999.
In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, he registered a notable victory from Silchar by defeating senior Congress leader Santosh Mohan Dev and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal.
However, he lost the seat in the 2014 general elections to Congress candidate Sushmita Dev.
Beyond electoral politics, Purkayastha remained deeply engaged in social and organisational work.
In recognition of his lifelong contribution to public service, he was conferred an honorary doctorate degree in September 2024.
Respected across party lines for his ideological commitment and organisational acumen, he leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of the principal architects of the BJP’s growth in Assam and the Northeast.
Purkayastha is survived by a son and a daughter.
His son, Kanad Purkayastha, is a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam. His wife had predeceased him.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal described Purkayastha’s demise as a personal loss and a major void in Assam’s political life, calling him a guiding light and father figure.
As a mark of respect, the Assam BJP has suspended all scheduled party activities on Thursday. (With inputs from PTI)
