In the Barak valley and the arena of state politics, there has been a fall again. A colorful political personality of the region, leading Congress leader Karnendu Bhattacharya passed away on Friday. Two-time MP and one-time MLA Karnendu breathed his last at Delhi’s Neo Hospital this morning. He was 84 years old at the time of his death. Left behind his wife Nandini Bhattacharya, two daughters Samhita and Kamalika Bhattacharya, two sons-in-law Kusumakar Bhattacharya, an engineer working in Durgapur and Abhilash Pillai, a lawyer working in Delhi, brother Kamanakrishna Bhattacharya, relatives and numerous well-wishers.

Raised from the very grass root level. Asa Karnendu Bhattacharya has been involved in politics for more than three decades. He was born in 1938. His journey into politics began as a member of Chhatra Parishad, the then student body of the Congress. Silchar Nursing Higher Secondary School & Cachar College’s Ex student Karnendu played an important role in the student movement as the convener of the student council fron 1957 to 1961. In this context, he was also at the forefront of the language movement of the 1961’s. In 1970 saw the official debut of youth politics from student politics. He became the president of Silchar District Youth Congress. At that time he came in contact with prominent Congress leader Priyaranjan Dasmunsi and rose to prominence at the state level.

In 2008 he was the successful president of Silchar District Congress appointed to the position. Since that period, he has served as district president for 26 years in two terms. Under his leadership the Congress organization spread widely in the district.

File Pic: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma with Karnendu Bhattacharjee at his residence

State politics took a turn in 1985 due to the Assam Accord. AGP party came to power in the state. Even on that day of Congress disaster, he won the Silchar assembly seat on the party ticket. He highlighted various issues related to the interests of the region in the state assembly. In 1996 and 2002, he was nominated as an MP in the Rajya Sabha. He made his debut in national politics as an MP. Visited the United States and France as a representative of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Party. His role during that period was appreciated in various quarters. In 1998, he was nominated as the secretary of the North East Congress MP Coordinating Committee. He was also elected as Secretary of the Congress Parliamentary Committee in 2004, defeating Congress heavyweight Kapil Sibal. During his tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP, he served as a member of the Parliamentary Advisory Committee on Railways, Urban and Rural Development, Defence, etc. Before joining parliamentary politics, he served as Chairman of Silchar Development Authority. Apart from politics, he was also involved in multifaceted activities in the social field.

After the news of his death reached Silchar on Friday, mourning was observed at all levels above politics. Opinions are expressed from all quarters that his death has created a vacuum in Barak’s politics. Congress and the ruling BJP also mourned Karnendu Bhattacharya’s death in state politics.