BARPETA, Sept 25 - Veteran politician, a popular leader, executive member of the State BJP and former MLA from Chenga LAC under Barpeta district passed away in a private hospital at Guwahati this afternoon.
Born in a poor family at a remote village near Bahari in May 1955, Khan joined social activities since his childhood and dedicated his life for the backward and poor people of the locality. The people of the area recognised his selfless services by electing him to the assembly as an independent candidate in 1991. His support to the then Congress government led by Late Hiteswar Saikia was considered as crucial for the survival of the government. He was appointed as the chairman of Agri Industry Board by the government. Later on he joined the Congress party.
After a few years, he shifted his political allegiance to the AGP and was elected as an MLA of the party from Chenga LAC in 2006. Before the Assembly election in 2016, he joined the AIUDF but left it alleging betrayal of the party leadership at the time of nominating party candidates for assembly election.
Khan joined the ruling BJP in August 2017 where he served as an executive member of the state unit.
Though initially making his name as a minority leader, his secular ideology made him popular among various communities of the society. Never in his long political career, did he advocate for any particular religion or linguistic group but stood as a saviour of the poor and deprived communities. His secularism was evident when he prevented a group of hooligans from demolishing a temple at Bahari in the aftermath of Babri Masjid demolition in December 1992. He also prevented a probable communal riot in 2010 sparking out of a chaos between two religious groups over a plot of land in 2010.
Throughout his life he struggled hard for the development of Chenga Constituency particularly prevention of massive erosion by Brahmaputra, improvement of road connectivity and uplift of the living standards of the farming community.
His untimely demise has been regarded as a great loss for the district in general and Chenga constituency in particular. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
