Kolkata, April 9 Former Union Minister Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury died in Kolkata due to age-related ailments, his family said on Thursday.
Choudhury, popularly known as Dalu, was 89 years old. He is survived by his wife and a son, Isha Khan Choudhury, who is a Member of Parliament for Malda Dakshin of the Congress.
Choudhury, a veteran Congressman, had been suffering from multiple age-related complications. He died at a private hospital in Kolkata late Wednesday, his family said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, condoled the death of Choudhury.
Reacting to his death, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted on X: "Deeply saddened by the passing of senior Congress leader and former MP, A.H. Khan Choudhury. He devoted his life to the people of Malda and West Bengal with quiet strength, humility, and unwavering commitment. His legacy of service will endure in the hearts of the people he represented."
"My heartfelt condolences to Isha Khan Choudhury, his family and friends, and to his supporters," he added.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described Choudhury as a "true statesman" who devoted "his life to public service and to the ideals of the Congress".
"Deeply saddened by the passing of senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Shri Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, who devoted his life to public service and the ideals of our party. A true statesman, he worked tirelessly for the people of West Bengal, especially in Malda, and upheld the values of inclusive growth, secularism, and social justice. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and supporters," Kharge posted on X.
Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also expressed grief and extended his condolences to the bereaved family members of the deceased leader.
Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury was born on January 12, 1938, into the prominent Khan Choudhury family of Malda. He entered politics under the guidance of his elder brother, the venerable ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, also a former Union Minister.
After his brother's demise, he emerged as the principal political figure in the family and played a crucial role in maintaining the Congress's hold over the district.
He served as an MLA of the Kaliachak assembly constituency from 1996 to 2006 and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Malda Dakshin for three consecutive terms since 2009.
He was the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government.
In recent years, he had stayed away from active politics due to ill health and did not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, passing over the mantle to his son, Isha.
His niece, Mausam Benazir Noor, is contesting the upcoming assembly elections from Malatipur on a Congress ticket.
