Shillong: Former Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister and veteran regional political leader, Standlington David Khongwir passed away on Tuesday,
Khongwir was admitted at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Mawdiangdiang following illness and breathed his last at the hospital.
His mortal remains is kept at his resident at Mawlai Nonglum, opposite the Weiking Ground, Jaïaw Shillong. Husband of (Late) Harlismon Tariang, Khongwir was the longest serving MLA of Mawlai constituency.
Khongwir won the Assembly elections continuously from 1972 to 1998 under different symbols as Independent and candidates of political parties that he had associated with.
Khongwir was one of the popular leaders of the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) and he had been working together with the first Chief Minister of Meghalaya, late Captain Williamson A Sangma.
Few years ago, Khongwir was not active in politics, and he had distanced himself from associating with any political party.
As the public representative, Khongwir had held the post of minister as well as Deputy Chief Minister of the state, and was part of various coalition governments in his long career in politics.
Leaders across the political spectrum including Chief Minister Conrad Sangma visited Khongwir’s residence on Tuesday to pay their last respects to the veteran political leader.
“Paid my respects to Former Deputy Chief Minister, Standlington D Khongwir at his residence. For the people of the state and especially the constituents of Mawlai, the demise of Parit Standling is a personal loss to the community,” Sangma wrote on X.
“Parit served wholeheartedly as the Rangbah Shnong for 55 long years, worked for the development of Mawlai as the President of the Mawlai Town Dorbar and was a leader most looked up to. Extend my deepest condolences to his family and his beloved people of Mawlai. May each of us follow in his footsteps towards strengthening our community through service. May his soul rest in peace,” he further wrote .
