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Syeda Anowara Taimur passes away

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Sept 28 - Former Chief Minister Syeda Anowara Taimur passed away today. She was 83. Taimur, who has the distinction of being the only woman Chief Minister of Assam, passed away in Australia. She had been ailing for some time and was living with her son in Australia since last few years.

Born on November 24, 1936, at Jorhat, Taimur did her higher studies from the Aligarh Muslim University. She served as the Chief Minister from December 6, 1980 to June 30, 1981, during the height of the Assam Agitation. She was a four-term legislator. Taimur was first elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly from the Mangaldai constituency in 1972 as a Congress candidate. She was re-elected to the Assembly from the Dalgaon constituency in 1978, 1983 and 1991. Taimur also served twice in the Rajya Sabha, from 1988 to 1990 and then again from 2004 to 2010.

She was appointed State Education Minister in 1975 by the then Chief Minister Sarat Chandra Sinha.

Taimur again served as a minister in the Hiteswar Saikia-led State government between 1991 and 1996 handling the portfolios of Agriculture, Haj and Wakf Property.

She also served as the chairperson of the Central Haj Committee during 1989-90 and 1990-91.

In 2011, Taimur quit the Congress and joined the AIUDF. She was appointed as vice president of AIUDF.

However, she had been away from active politics since some time.

Taimur leaves behind a son and two daughters.

She took over as Chief Minister at a time when Assam was passing through a very critical phase.

Taimur took charge as Chief Minister following a period of almost a year of President�s Rule, which had been imposed after the collapse of the State government headed by Jogendra Nath Hazarika in December 1979.

After Taimur resigned, the State again witnessed a period of President�s Rule.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolence over the demise of the late Chief Minister.

�Her contributions towards Assam�s development will be remembered. May her soul rest in peace,� Modi tweeted.

Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi condoled the demise of the former Chief Minister.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also condoled the demise of Taimur.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Ripun Bora, AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal, AGP president Atul Bora, and State BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass, among others, also mourned the demise of Taimur.

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