Silchar, Dec. 17: Former Silchar MP and CPM central committee member Nurul Huda, 86, passed away at a private hospital in Calcutta around 12.30pm today. 

He is survived by his wife Chabi, who is in her late seventies.

Huda, who was the treasurer of the All India Kisan Sabha, was hospitalised a week ago because of heart-related ailments. One of his family members said the veteran leader suffered a massive heart attack on Tuesday and slipped into a coma. After that, his health continued to deteriorate. 

The Cachar-Hailakandi district committee of the CPM mourned the leader’s death today. 

Samiran Acharjee, secretary of the district committee, said the void left behind by Huda would be difficult to fill. A rally would be organised tomorrow in his memory and a condolence meeting held here on December 27, Acharjee said.

“He is one of the tallest leaders of the CPM in Assam. He played a pivotal role in spreading the ideology of 
the party among the people of the Northeast. We have lost a great leader,” Acharjee said. 

Born at Dalu in Cachar district, Huda first became a member of Parliament from Silchar in 1974 after defeating Congress candidate and former minister Mahitosh Purkayastha by 19,944 votes. He also spent 18 months in jail during the Emergency in 1976. He defeated Janata Party candidate Kabindra Purkayastha in 1978 to be elected as an MLA from here.

Huda was associated with many NGOs and was a whole-time worker of the Left party. 

Former BJP MP Kabindra Purkayastha expressed grief over the Communist leader’s demise and said Huda was a very respected politician.