Tezpur, March 22: Senior AGP leader and former Member of Parliament from 9 Tezpur constituency Joseph Toppo died in Guwahati today. He was 64.

AGP sources in Tezpur said Toppo had been admitted to GNRC Hospitals after a heart attack.

He is survived by his wife, Bina, one son and three daughters.

Toppo hailed from Dhekiajuli in central Assam's Sonitpur district.

He was a distinguished tea community leader and served as minister of state for labour and employment in the last Prafulla Mahanta-led AGP government from June 12, 1996, to May 17, 2001.

Toppo had won the Dhekiajuli Assembly seat twice in 1996 and 2001 on an AGP ticket and was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2009, when he defeating Congress candidate Moni Kumar Subba.

Toppo began his political career as a student leader at Tezpur Don Bosco High School.

AGP leader Brindaban Goswami, along with other party members, held a condolence meeting at the Tezpur AGP office today.

"Just three days ago I met his family members at Dhekiajuli and today he left us," Goswami said.

After the condolence meeting, he left for Guwahati to bring Toppo's body to Dhekiajuli.

He said Toppo attended an election rally for Thaneswar Boro on March 17 when he fell ill and was immediately shifted to GNRC Hospitals.

The Sonitpur district AGP workers also held a condolence meeting.

The AGP secretary of Dhekiajuli constituency, Siva Suren Sahu, told The Telegraph that Toppo was a dynamic leader and founder of AGP in Dhekiajuli. He said Toppo's death was a "great loss" for the party.

Toppo will be cremated tomorrow.

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi also expressed his condolences, saying Toppo's contributions to society would always be remembered. AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal also conveyed his condolences.