Former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi passes away in Guwahati after post-COVID complications

After a long post-COVID battle, 3-time Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi passed away on Monday at 5:34 PM after multi-organ failure at Guwahati Medical College Hospital. 84-year-old's demise was anunced by Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Gogoi was diagsed with Covid in August end, but later battled post-Covid complications after testing negative. He is survived by his wife - Dolly Gogoi, daughter Chandrima Gogoi and son Gaurav Gogoi - Kalibar Lok Sabha MP.

Tarun Gogoi passes away

"Fmr CM Tarun Gogoi is more. He passed away at 5:34 PM. He was on life support. Doctors tried ir best," said Sarma. 

Gogoi's COVID complications

veteran Congress leer was diagsed with Covid in August end and recovered on being ministered plasma rapy. After developing post-COVID complications on testing negative, he was put on n-invasive ventilation since vember 2. His health deteriorated on Saturday afteron and was kept on six-hour dialysis on Sunday, said Sarma.He ded that leer was flushed with toxins and was t in a position to undergo process again, minister said. Several Assam leers like Himanta Biswa Sarma, AIUDF chief Bruddin Ajmal, APCC chief Ripun Bora, CM Sarbananda Sowal visited leer, who remained unconscious. Sonawal h cancelled all his events for day and rushed back to Guwahati as Gogoi's health deteriorated.

About Tarun Gogoi

Tarun Gogoi - fondly called 'Punakon' - was born to Dr. Kamaleshwar Gogoi - a medical practitioner and Usha Gogoi on 01 April 1936 in Assam's Sibsagar District (w kwn as Jorhat). After completing his LLB from  Jagannath Barooah College, Gogoi joined politics in 1968 as a member of Jorhat Municipal Board. In 1971, Gogoi was elected to Lok Sabha from Jorhat for first time. He was re-elected to Lok Sabha 1977, 1980 and n 1985 - serving under two Prime Ministers - Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. During his time in Centre, he held cabinet post - Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Food & Food processing later, between 1991-1995.

Inspite of being a 6-time Lok Sabha MP, he was perceived as a low-profile politician till he became Assam's CM. In 1997, he was elected to Assam Legislative Assembly from Margherita Assembly Constituency and took over reins of state on May 17, 2001, winning  Titabor assembly constituency which he held till 2016. 4-time MLA was re-elected as CM for three back-to-back terms from 2001 to 2016,

Longest serving Assam CM

His term as CM was difficult as he was charged with responsibility of steering strife-torn state from violence to growth. His first term as CM was also met with several internal struggles with cabinet colleagues Sarat Barkataki, Devanand Konwar and Ardhendu Kumar Dey disagreeing with each or and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind - demanding key portfolios like Home Department. Being General Secretary of AICC (1985–90), Gogoi sood over internal relations and promoted younger cabinet ministers.

Through his three terms as Chief Minister, Assam saw a 'turn-around' with communication, power, employment and health sectors majorly boosted. He was also responsible for assuaging fears of people over 'extra-judicial killings' with Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) joining mainstream politics in 2003. Several journalists from Assam point out that Gogoi was always approachable and always welcomed difference of opinions, t allowing it to affect ir working relationship.

His last term as CM was marked with rebellion of his former protégée Himanta Biswa Sarma, who quit Congress and joined BJP. With his health deteriorating, he anunced in 2014, that he will t be leing Congress in state in 2016 elections. Sarma, who has since n been me BJP's rth-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) conver, led BJP to its first victory in rth-eastern state, ushering in Sarbananda Sonawal's maiden term. Recently, Gogoi h reached out to Ajmal to seal a Congress-AIUDF alliance for 2021 elections, as per reports - his last political act.