Former CM Nipamacha no more
State mourns, all Govt offices to remain closed today
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 17 2012: Former Chief Minister of Manipur Wahengbam Nipamacha breathed his last at around 10.30 am today at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here where he had been taking medical treatment for the last two days.

He was 83 .

Announcing passing away of Nipamacha to media, officials of RIMS said he died from multiple organ failure and he had history hypertension, chronic kidney disease, cardiac problem and stroke.

Nipamacha is survived by his wife Longjam Ningol Wahengbam Ongbi Maipakpi Devi and they have no issue.

According to sources close to the bereaved family said that on July 2, Nipamacha tripped over and sprained his leg while going to attend some social religious function at the house of one of his local friends identified as Shyamkishore.

The following day, he was taken to Raj Policlinic at North AOC for necessary treatment.

At the advice of the doctors, he was admitted to the private hospital on July 4 and underwent surgery on his leg on July 5.As he did not show any sign of improvement after the operation, Nipamacha was taken to RIMS on July 6 for further treatment.

From there, he was referred to Shija Hospitals on July 7.But at around 3 pm on July 15, he was again brought back to RIMS where he had been undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) .

Chief Minister Ibobi paying last respect to W Nipamacha

Sources further said that today morning, his wife came to meet Nipamacha in the ICU and he breathed his last while looking at his wife who was standing in front of him. The lifeless body of Nipamacha was brought from RIMS to his native Wangoi in a procession led by local MLA Lukhoi.

At Wangoi, a large number of people were waiting to pay their last respect to the departed leader when Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Speaker Th Lokeshwar, Home Minister Gaikhangam, PHED Minister I Hemochandra, Commerce & Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, Social Welfare Minister AK MIrabai, Agriculture Minister Md Abdul Nasir, MLAs M Kunjo and Fazur Rahaman, Ex-MP W Angou, Ex-MLAsRadhabinod Koijam and Nandakishore as well as other noted personalities arrived to join in paying their homage to the departed soul amidst offering of general salute and sounding of last post by a contingent of Ist Manipur Rifles.

Three rounds of gun were also shot in honour of the departed leader.

DGP Y Joykumar, IGP L Kailun and other top police officers were also present at the occasion.

The last rites due to a departed soul were performed and mortal remains of Nipamacha were finally consigned to flame at around 4 pm.

At a time when political instability and social upheaval was an order of the day, Nipamacha went on to become the Chief Minister of Manipur twice.

When people in the hills suffered beyond comparison on account of Naga-Kuki clashes, Nipamacha left Congress to set up his own party under the name Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) and became the Chief Minister for the first time on December 16, 1997 .

With MSCP returning to power in the next term as well, Nipamacha was sworn as the Chief Minister of the state for the second time and remained an undisputed leader till 2001 .

Born on March 1, 1930 at Wangoi Wahengbam Leikai under Imphal West district, Nipamacha passed MA in History from Gauhati University in 1963, after which he first worked as a teacher in Wangoi ME High School.

Later on, he served as an Assistant Teacher at Johnstone Higher Secondary School.

He also served as Head Master of Wangoi High School from 1964 to 1971 before joining politics.

Nipamacha joined Indian National Congress and entered into active politics in 1971.He was elected to second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh Manipur Legislative assembly respectively.

He became Minister for PHED, Planning and Fisheries in the fifth Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Nipamacha was elected Speaker of Manipur assembly on March 22, 1995.He held the post of Chief Minister from December 16, 1997 to February 14, 2001 in the United Front government led by Manipur State Congress party (MSCP) .

Nipamacha left Rishang Government with 23 MLAs on December 5, 1997 and formed MSCP.

He became the first President of MSCP.

Later, he also founded a political party called Manipur National Conference (MNC) on October 5, 2001 and he became its president.

However, MNC was merged with RJD on June 21, 2005 and Nipamacha became President of RJD, Manipur unit.

Then he became even National Vice-President of RJD.

In the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election of 2007, he contested from Wangoi constituency on RJD ticket but defeated by S Joy Singh of NCP.

He again left RJD on December 3, 2008 and joined BJP.

Nipamacha also contested from the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Seat as a BJP candidate.

He had travelled over 10 foreign countries.

Some of the notable achievements of Nipamacha during his lifetime included inclusion of Manipur under Sourashtra-Silchar Super Highway along with prevailing upon NDA Government to earmark an amount of Rs 1000; resolution of Kuki-Paite clashes, introduction of 5th Pay Commission in Manipur, successful hosting of 5th National Games in Manipur, establishment of MOBC Department and Manipur Human Rights Commission, cancelling the warrant issued against comrade Hijam Irabot, declaration of Gaan-Ngai as State holiday, installation of Integrity Pillar in 1998 to spread the message of protecting the territorial integrity of the state, etc.

Meanwhile, it has been announced that all government offices and educational institutions under the Government of Manipur would remain closed on July 18 as a mark of respect to the memory of late W Nipamacha Singh, former Chief Minister of Manipur, who breathed his last today.

Issuing an order in this regard, Under Secretary (GAD), Government of Manipur S Lokendra Sharma has informed that there will be a state funeral on July 18 at Wangoi, the birth place of Nipamacha.