Our Correspondent
Imphal,August 22 (EMN): Oldest parliamentarian in the country-Rishang Keishing-born on October 25,1920, passed away due to multi organ failure on today night at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences hospital at around 8.15pm, hospital sources said. He was 98 and has been ill and hospitalised since July 1 this year.
He is survived by his wife and 3 sons and two daughters.
Meanwhile the state announced three days mourning while all the government offices and educational institutions will remain closed tomorrow as a mark of respect to the departed soul.
Born on October 25,1920 in Bungpa village in Manipur’s Ukhrul District,Rishang contested the first assembly election from his home constituency Phungyar in 1972. He won the seat seven times and become the state’s first longest serving chief minister in several installments.
Congressman Keishing who was regarded as a living legend not only in Manipur but in the entire NE region, served as Chief Minister of Manipur from 1980 to 1988 and from 1994 to 1997.
At 87, he was the oldest MP and the last link to the country’s first Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha member from Manipur.
Though he made way for his son Victor Keishing to reclaim his constituency after he lost in 2002 assembly polls, he represents Manipur in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Indian Parliament till his end of his term on April 9,2014.
