Guwahati, Jan13: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the residence of veteran BJP leader and former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha in Silchar on Tuesday to pay respects and offer condolences to the bereaved family.

Purkayastha, aged 94, passed away on January 7 at Silchar Medical College and Hospital due to age-related ailments.

In a post on X, Sarma said, “Visited the residence of Late Kabindra Purkayastha in Silchar to pay my obeisance to the departed soul, who made rich contributions to Assam’s society and polity. His ideals will always guide us.” He added, “My thoughts are with Kanad Purkayastha and the family in this hour of grief.”

Purkayastha is survived by his son, Kanad Purkayastha, a BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Assam, and a daughter. His wife had predeceased him. A prominent BJP figure, he represented the Silchar Lok Sabha constituency three times in 1991, 1998, and 2009 and served as Union Minister of State for Communications.