IMPHAL, Sept 30: The Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Dr. Sapam Budhichandra Singh passed away in the wee hour today at the AIIMS New Delhi after battling a prolonged illness. He was 60 and is survived by his wife and three children, two sons and a daughter.
Dr. Sapam Budhichandra, Konthoujam A/C, MLA, after successfully attending the recent sitting of the Manipur Legislative Assembly session held from July 7 till 29, initially was hospitalized at the RIMS hospital, Imphal.
Later he was admitted at AIIMS, New Delhi on September 23 following deterioration of his health.
His condition further worsened and was kept in the Intensive Care Unit of the AIIMS, and since then he has been on ventilator.
He began suffering from pneumonia and he succumbed to the illness early this morning.
The mortal remains of the deceased will be brought to Imphal tomorrow.
Born on 1st March, 1949 at Konthoujam Awang Leikai, Dr Sapam Budhichandra, before entering politics was a doctor by profession, MBBS, MD (Radio Diagnosis), trained in MPW and CHW programme, trained CT Scanning in Freiburg University, Germany and BHU Sahitya Sudhakar.
He was elected to the 8th Manipur Legislative Assembly on INC ticket in the year 2004 and was reelected to the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly with INC ticket in the year 2007. Till the time of his death he was holding the post of the Speaker in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
During his prime, Budhichandra had served as Medical Officer and Radiologist in different PHCs and District Hospitals of Manipur from 1973 till 1992, Head of Department of Radiology, J.N Hospital, Imphal. He was also an executive member, Doctors Cell, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (I) from 1992-99, member election Committee MPCC from 2001-04, executive member, MPCC and general secretary, MPCC from 2001-05, treasurer, SPF Political Forum, Manipur in 2002 and executive member, MPCC in 2010.
In the meantime, the Governor of Manipur, Gurabachan Jagat, chief minister O Ibobi Singh, Lok Sabha MP, T Meiyna lead in expressing condolences at the sudden demise of Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Dr Sapam Budhichandra, who passes away today at New Delhi.
In his condolence message to Budhichandra’s wife, Governor Gurbachan Jagat conveyed his deep sense of shock and pain at the sudden and untimely demise of Dr. S. Budhichandra Singh. The Governor said untimely demise of Budhichandra has left an irreparable void to Manipur which will be difficult to fill up.
The Governor while sharing the pain and grief with the bereaved family, also pray for the departed soul to rest in peace.
In his condolence, chief minister O Ibobi Singh, while expressing his grief over the sudden and untimely demise of, S. Budhichandra Singh, said he shared the pain and sorrow of the family on behalf of his council of ministers and as a chief minister of Manipur.
The Manipur chief minister described Dr. Budhichandra as a political leader and prominent leader of the state. On his demise the state has lost a great leader, O Ibobi Singh said in the message.
Lok Sabha MP, Dr. T. Meiyna also expressed his profound grief over the untimely and sudden demise of Dr. S. Budhichandra. The MP asserted that late Budhichandra was a childhood friend and a fellow class mate. His demise will leave a huge vacuum for the people of Manipur and also for the Congress party, Meinya said and share his grief with the family and pray for the soul to rest in peace.
Meanwhile, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), in a statement, said president MPCC Gaikhangam suffered a great shock upon hearing the news of the sudden demise of Dr. Sapam Budhichandra.
It said that as a member of the Congress party the spirit and courage shown by the departed Congressman he will be remembered by the people of the state forever. His death is an irreparable lost not only to the Congress party but also for the people of Manipur, Gaikhangam said in the statement.
The Konthoujam Block Youth Congress Committee also express its condolence on the demise of Dr. S. Budhichandra
My deepest and sincerest condolences to the victims family and friends..May His Soul be rest in Peace.