Guwahati ( Assam) , April 18 : Former Assam chief minister Bhumidhar Barman died on Sunday evening at a private hospital in Guwahati after a prolonged illness .
He was 91.
Dr. Barman, a veteran Congress leader, was a two-time chief minister of the state.
His first term as the chief minister lasted from April 22 to May 14, 1996 when his predecessor Hiteswar Saikia died.
He was again made the chief minister in 2010 when then CM Tarun Gogoi had gone to Mumbai for his heart surgery.
Dr. Barman was a minister in both Hiteswar Saikia and Tarun Gogoi governments, holding important portfolios like Health, Education and Revenue, among others.
The seven-term MLA was first elected to the Assam Assembly in 1967. He represented Borkhetry in the Nalbari district for four terms.
His son Diganta Barman contested from the seat in 2016 and lost. He was also the Congress candidate from the seat this time. Dr.Barman was also the two-time MLA of Nalbari West, and once won the election from Dharmapur.
A doctor by profession, Barman had graduated from Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh.
He is survived by a son and a daughter. His wife predeceased him.
Condoling his demise , Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said today we lost a stalwart of Assam politics – former CM and 7-time MLA Late Bhumidhar Barman.
I have fond memories of his guidance and affection, starting with my early political career. He leaves behind a rich legacy of good politics & work. We shall miss him.
