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Assam BJP Stalwart Kabindra Purkayastha Passes Away at 94

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Guwahati
  • Jan 07, 2026
  • 682

Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha passed away on Wednesday at Silchar Medical College. He was 94.

Regarded as the architect and moral compass of the BJP in Assam, Purkayastha was among the founding pioneers who laid the party’s organisational foundation in the state. Known for his austere lifestyle, intellectual clarity and unwavering discipline, he remained a towering influence and mentor for generations of party workers.

Expressing grief over his demise, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described Purkayastha as an institution in himself. In a post on X, Sarma said the veteran leader’s contribution to building the BJP in Assam was unparalleled and that his life embodied the ideals of dedication, simplicity and public service.

Tracing Purkayastha’s long journey from grassroots activism to national leadership, Sarma noted that he consistently placed people and their concerns at the centre of his politics. From his early days as a pracharak in Silchar to his tenure as a Union Minister, Purkayastha championed the interests of Assam and the Northeast while upholding values-driven politics.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also mourned the loss, calling Purkayastha a true stalwart of the BJP who devoted his entire life to strengthening the organisation from the grassroots. He described the late leader as a father figure and an enduring source of inspiration for countless party workers.

Before entering active politics, Purkayastha served as a teacher, an experience that shaped his principled and thoughtful approach to public life. He later served as Union Minister of Communications in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, earning wide respect for his integrity and administrative acumen.

Purkayastha’s passing has sparked an outpouring of grief cutting across political lines. Senior leaders, party workers and admirers gathered at Silchar Medical College to pay their final respects, marking the end of an era in Assam’s political landscape.