Imphal, September 01 2010: Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr S Budhichandra Singh passed away early this morning at AIIMS, New Delhi after a prolonged illness.

He was 61 and is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

Dr S Budhichandra became serious after he was admitted at the AIIMS in Delhi.

He was put under the intensive care unit since September 15. According to a press communique from the Manipur Assembly Secretariat, the Speaker passed away at 3:40 am today.

Dr S.Budhichandra was a medical doctor by profession.

He got elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly from the Indian National Congress (INC) ticket in the year 2004 from Konthoujam assembly constituency in Imphal East district in the by-election after sitting MP Dr Th.Meinya vacated the constituency to be in fray for the Lok Sabha election.

He was again re-elected in the 2007 Manipur assembly election and became the Assembly Speaker.

Dr Budhichandra's body will be brought to Imphal from New Delhi by an Indian Airlines flight at 1.05 pm tomorrow.

Chief Minister O Ibobi, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaikhangam, Deputy Speaker Th Lokeshore, Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, RD and Panchayati Raj, Minority and Backward Classes Minister, Md Allauddin, Chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board, Dr E Dwijamani and Chairman of MANITRON, Dr Kh Ratankumar will be accompanying the body.

AICC Treasurer, Motilal Vohra and AICC In Charge North East, Eduardo Falero, on behalf of AICC President, Sonia Gandhi, offered floral tribtes to the mortal remains of Late Speaker Dr S Budhichandra at the AIIMS.

Chief Minister O Ibobi, Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Minister Md Allaudin, Chairman of MPCB, E Dwijamani, Chairman of MANITRON, Dr Kh Ratankumar and Deputy Speaker, Th Lokeshwar accompanied the Central Congress leaders in offering floral tributes.

Meanwhile, Manipur Governor Gurbachan Jagat in his condolence message conveyed to the wife of the Late Speaker expressed his deep sense of shock and pain at the sudden and untimely demise of Dr Budhichandra.

In the message, the Governor said that Dr Budhichandra was a soft spoken and excellent human being who had a sincere love for the State and the people.

"His untimely demise has left an irreparable void to Manipur which will be difficult to fill up," said the Governor in his message.

Chief Minister O Ibobi has expressed grief over the sudden and unexpected death of Dr S Budhichandra.

"He was a great political leader and one of the prominent leaders of the state.

On his demise the state has lost a great leader," the Chief Minister said in his message.

Deputy Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Th Lokeshore, in his condolence message said that Dr Budhichandra was a determined and unbiased Speaker.

He was one of the most eminent political leaders of Manipur.

His sudden demise has left a vaccuum not only in his family, Assembly Constituency and Manipur Leiglative Assembly but also in entire Manipur.

Archaeological Deputy Speaker Lokeshore further said that Dr Budhichandra was a teacher who had guided him.

MPCC president Gaikhangam has expressed shock on hearing the news of Dr Budhichandra's death.

In his condolence message Gaikhangam said, Dr Budhichandra's death is an irreparable loss not only to the Congress party but also to the people of Manipur.

The party shares the grief of the berieved family and prays to God that his soul may rest in peace, the message said.

Inner Manipur MP, Dr T Meinya has also expressed deep shock over the untimely and sudden death of Dr S Budhichandra.

In his message of condolence, Dr Meinya said that Dr Sapam Budhichandra was a contemporary friend of his who grew up together in the same locality.

His death is a great loss to him personally, and also to Congress party and Manipur, the Minister said.

Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress, Former Presiding Officers' Forum, Manipur, CPI Manipur State Council, etc.

have also conveyed messages of condolence over the death of Dr S Budhichandra.

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