Former social welfare, woman and child development minister Newlai Tingkhatra died at a hospital in Haryana's Gurgaon district following a massive heart attack, family sources said here today.
He was 56 and is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.
Tingkhatra passed away last night after he was admitted in a critical condition at a private hospital at Gurgaon on April 25.
He suffered a stroke on the previous day and was kept on life-support system in the ICU ward of the hospital. He was reportedly in coma after a massive heart attack causing brain hemorrhage.
His body was brought to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi this morning where his well wishers including Chief Minister Nabam Tuki paid his last respect.
His body would be taken to his native village at Kanubari in Longding district tomorrow for performing the last rites, sources said.
Tingkhatra had contested the April 9 Assembly elections in the state from Kanubari constituency on Congress ticket.
A three-term cabinet minister under various capacities including the last government under Nabam Tuki, Tingkhatra won Kanubari seat for three consecutive terms since 1999.
He is a famous tea planter in the state.
Tuki, who visited the AIIMS this morning to pay the last respect, termed him as a great statesman and a veteran politician of the state.
"With his death a vacuum has been created in the state which cannot be filled in the years to come," Tuki said in a statement from New Delhi.