Shillong, Sept. 28: Thousands of people in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills today paid homage to veteran political leader and the state's longest-serving legislator Hoping Stone Lyngdoh who will be laid to rest tomorrow with full state honours.

Lyngdoh, 86, passed away here on Saturday morning. At the time of his death, he was a legislator representing Nongstoin constituency.

A sea of humanity gathered at the ground in New Nongstoin to bid adieu to the popular leader who was also the founder of the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP). They came from Nongstoin as well as various parts of West Khasi Hills.

His body was taken to Nongstoin, the district headquarters of West Khasi Hills, from Shillong this morning. The casket containing Lyngdoh's mortal remains was first taken to the inspection bungalow of the PWD as he used to stay there during his visits to Nongstoin.

People from all walks of life, including public representatives and government officials, paid homage to Lyngdoh by laying wreaths on his coffin.

From New Nongstoin ground, the body was taken to Mawkyllei, Lyngdoh's native village, around 25km from Nongstoin. A state funeral will be accorded to the departed leader tomorrow around noon.

As condolences continued to pour in, Tura Lok Sabha MP Purno Agitok Sangma today recalled his association with Lyngdoh dating back to 1977 when both the leaders made their maiden entry into Parliament.

"He (Lyngdoh) was thoroughly honest and totally committed to the cause of the tribals. His contribution to the Hill State Movement was tremendous," Sangma said.

Recalling the days in Delhi in 1977 when both were put up at VP House after they were elected to Parliament, Sangma said: "There were times when he (Lyngdoh) would drop my son (James) to school on a bicycle."

Describing Lyngdoh as the "champion" of the movement for a separate Khasi-Jaintia state, he said: "When I met him at AIIMS in Delhi a few months back, he asked. 'Why should the Khasis and Garos fight over the 40:40 reservation policy? Let's go for 100:100, and let's have a Khasi-Jaintia and a Garo state'. I think this was also his last wish."

Stating that Lyngdoh had established a cadre-based party with committed volunteers, Sangma said: "I do not think there are many politicians who have won so many elections like Lyngdoh. He was a member of the district council, Assembly and Parliament."

Sangma himself had never lost an electoral battle since 1977.

Recounting that Lyngdoh was an "adventurous man", the former Lok Sabha Speaker reminded that the departed leader "never had a house".

"I remember in Delhi that whenever he received his salary, he would go to bookstalls and purchase textbooks to be distributed among underprivileged schoolchildren. He never spent money on himself," he added.

In his 2013 election affidavit, Lyngdoh had shown that he did not own any "immovable asset". His political career started in 1957 when he was elected to the United Khasi Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council.

Stating that Lyngdoh had won his elections in an "absolute genuine way", Sangma said the veteran leader never spent money during elections. "That is why today we need to go back to those days. Today, it is a bad atmosphere of money and muscle power. It is very sad," he added.