Shillong, Oct. 11: Former Meghalaya minister Beckstar Sangma, 60, passed away in Shillong this morning after a brief illness.

He is survived by his wife and four children.

Sangma, who was suffering from throat cancer, died at his residence at Lower Lachumiere here around 3.30am.

Chief minister Mukul Sangma, Speaker Charles Pyngrope, Opposition leader Conrad Sangma and NCP leader P.A. Sangma, among others, visited Sangma’s family and condoled his death.

The former minister first got elected from Rongchugre constituency in West Garo Hills in 1993 as an Independent candidate.

In 1998, after contesting and winning again from Rongchugre on a Congress ticket, Sangma was inducted as a minister of state in the ministry of late B.B. Lyngdoh.

Later, he was elevated to cabinet minister in-charge of animal husbandry in the E.K. Mawlong ministry in 2000 and subsequently held the horticulture portfolio during the reign of F.A Khonglam in 2002.

In 2003, Sangma contested on an NCP ticket, but later joined the Congress.

He was sworn in as cabinet minister in December 2003 when D.D. Lapang was the chief minister.

He was defeated by NCP candidate James Sangma in the 2008 Assembly elections.