Legislator, ex-Minister Lakiumong dies in Delhi

Kohima, Nov 02: Sitting BJP legislator from Tuensang Sadar (II) constituency A Lakiumong died after a prolonged illness in a hospital in New Delhi at the wee hours today.

He was 61.

He is survived by his wife, three sons (rpt) and three daughters.

Born on 12 April, 1945, Mr Lakiumong entered into politics in 1974 and was frist elected in 1982 from Tuensang constituency on Congress ticket. He was later appointed Minister of State for Public Health Engineering and Fisheries in 1986. He was re-elected from the same constituency and elevated as Cabinet Minister for Jails and Excise.

In 1989, he was elected again from the same constituency, but on Nagaland Peoples Council (NPC) ticket, subsequently he was appointed Cabinet Minister for Rural Development under the Chief Ministership of K.L.Chishi and re-inducted as Minister headed by late Vamuzo.

Mr Lakiumong re-joined the Congress party in 1992 and switch over to Indira Congress in 1994 after the split of Congress party.

In 1999, he joined the BJP and was relected from the Tuensang Sadar II seat in 2003 and appointed as Cabinet Minister of Mechanical Engineering and Art and Culture. But he was dropped during the down-sizing of Neiphiu Rio led ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) ministry.

Later he was appointed as the Chairman of the Development Authority of Nagaland and continued the post till his last breath.

His body will be flown to Guwahati today and for last rites his body wouldbe taken to Tuensang tomorrow.

UNI