CM, Speaker condole demise of former Nagaland Governor

Dimapur, April 25 (EMN): Former Governor of Nagaland, Kateekal Sankaranarayanan passed away at his residence in Palakkad, Kerala, on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 89.

Born on October 15, 1932, the veteran Congress leader, who was a four-time legislator and had held Finance, Excise and Agriculture in various ministries in Kerala, also served as the governor of Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

He had also held additional charges of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Goa as Governor.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer on Monday condoled the death of Sankaranarayanan, who served as Nagaland Governor from February 3 2007 to July 27 2009.

Rio, who was the chief minister of Nagaland when Sankaranarayanan became the governor of the state, described the former governor of the state as “a good person, and a perfect gentleman in his dealings with everyone. He dedicated his life to the service of the nation and its people”.

He informed that Sankaranarayanan came to Nagaland with a long political experience and held the charge of Governor of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, before going to serve as Governor of a few more states. “In his death the nation has lost a good politician with a golden heart,” he wrote.

“I, on behalf of my family and the people of Nagaland, express heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members in this hour of grief. May his departed soul rest in eternal peace,” read the condolence message to the bereaved family of the deceased.

NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer also conveyed heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family on behalf of the state legislative assembly members.

Described the deceased as “a man who made himself lovable to all sections of the people of the State and admired by all for his courage, conviction, dynamism, wisdom and his bold administration”, Longkumer said the former governor had brightened the lives of millions of people through his contributions over his long political career.

“In his death, the State of Kerala in particular and the country as a whole has lost a leader of rare acumen and political and administrative skills and the people of Nagaland a very good friend and a visionary leader,” read the condolence message.