EM Bureau
Dimapur, Sep. 27 (EMN): Veteran politician and sitting MLA of the 8th Western Angami assembly constituency, Kiyanilie Peseyie of Jotsoma village passed away early Wednesday morning around 2:30 AM in a private hospital in Dimapur following a prolonged illness. He was 76 and is survived by wife Vilekhono, two sons, seven daughters and 15 grandchildren.
Kiyanilie Peseyie was born to Siecha and Lhourhino Peseyie of Jotsoma in the year 1941. He did his schooling from Jotsoma and Dimapur, and graduated from Guwahati University in 1970.
Before joining politics, Peseyie served the state government under the department of Excise from 1971 in various positions till 2003 when he retired voluntarily as Additional Commissioner of Excise. He was also known to have served the society in various capacities and is associated with organizations involving farmers and student organizations, the church and the field of education.
Peseyie who entered into electoral politics in the year 2003, was elected on NPF ticket to the 8th Western Angami A/C for the last three consecutive terms. He had served as the Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) for two tenures and later appointed as Minister for Social Welfare till recently.
He was first elected to the 10th Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 8th Western Angami Assembly Constituency in 2003 general elections from NPF ticket. He became Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly in 2003. He won from the same constituency in 2008 general election and again became Speaker for the second time. He became minister after winning for the third time in 2013 general election from the same constituency.
Peseyie as the president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Nagaland CPA Branch and member of the Executive Committee of CPA, had attended the CPA conferences as official delegates several times.
It may be mentioned that under his leadership, when he was NLA Speaker for the second time, a Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF) was formed. All the 59 MLAs, with Peseyie as the convenor of JLF, met the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in 2012 at Delhi and pressed upon him to bring early settlement to the Naga political issue.
People remember Peseyie as a God fearing man, straightforward and a down-to-earth person who not only led an exemplary life but a leader of the people.
“Kiyanilie was one of the most trusted party legislators who took on responsibilities many others hesitated to take up, and performed his duties and responsibilities with grace and finesse. A humble person by nature, he was a man of few words but he was the personification of honesty, truthfulness and loyalty. In his passing away, I have lost a very close political confidante and a dear friend,” read a message from Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu. Peseyie had stood by Liezietsu during the NPF tussle.
According to family sources, a brief send off programme will be held on Thursday, 8 AM at his family residence in Kuda ‘A’ Khel, Dimapur, following which, the mortal remains will be taken to the native village Jotsoma for the final rites.
State funeral on Thursday
Peseyie will be honoured with a state funeral on Thursday at Centenary Compound, Baptist Church Jotsoma, at 1 PM. NLA Speaker, Dr Imtiwapang Aier will speak on behalf of the state government at the funeral while chief secretary Pankaj Kumar will lay wreath.
He will be laid to rest after being accorded a ceremonial guard of honour.
