Assam’s Former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Dies, Three-day State Mourning Announced

Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi dies after a prolonged illness caused by post-Covid complications. State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that Assam’s former leader had also faced multiple organ failure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled his death and said he was a “popular leader and a veteran administrator”.

“Shri Tarun Gogoi Ji was a popular leader and a veteran administrator, who had years of political experience in Assam as well as the Centre. Anguished by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of sadness. Om Shanti,” he tweeted.

President Ram Nath Kovind said Mr Gogoi will be remembered for developing Assam.

“Extremely sad to know of the demise of Shri Tarun Gogoi, former Chief Minister of Assam. The country has lost a veteran leader with rich political and administrative experience. His long tenure in office was a period of epochal change in Assam,” he tweeted.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who had cancelled an official tour over Mr Gogoi’s health on Monday, described him as a people’s leader.

“Tarun Gogoi was a people’s leader who had great contribution in Assam’s political and public sphere. Even though we were in Opposition parties, we shared a wonderful rapport and he was a guiding figure. My deepest condolences to his family and well-wishers,” he tweeted.

Mr Gogoi, a Congress stalwart, had tested positive for the coronavirus on August 25 and was admitted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital the next day. He had recovered from COVID-19 and was discharged from the hospital after two months.

On Sunday, Mr Gogoi’s health had improved slightly but his urine output remained a cause of concern. Today, Mr Sarma, while giving an update on his health, had said that he was “extremely critical”.

Assam will observe state mourning for three days over Mr Gogoi’s death. His funeral will take place on November 26.