Former Speaker of the Mizoram Assembly and veteran politician Hiphei died at Aizawl civil hospital around 7.30am on Wednesday. He was 82.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Family sources said he had a stroke and was suffering from pneumonia since October last year.

He was admitted to Aizawl civil hospital in mid-October and later referred to GNRC Hospitals in Guwahati in November, a source said.

After remaining under intense medical care at the ICU in the GNRC, he was flown to Aizawl and admitted to the civil hospital in February.

Born on August 23, 1937, at Chapi village in south Mizoram’s Siaha district, Hiphei, who was also called “Father of the Mara tribe”, started his political career with Mara Freedom Party (MFP) in September 1963. He was the first vice-president of the party after he served as a middle-school headmaster at Tôkalô and Chakhei villages in Siaha for several years.

He married Sathlie in 1961 and the couple had five children, including two daughters. His three sons had passed away. Hiphei was elected to the Assembly from Tuipang constituency (Now Palak) as an Independent in 1972 when Mizoram was a Union Territory and was made the deputy Speaker.

He won the Assembly elections seven times between 1972 and 2013 from Palak.

He joined the Janata Party in 1978 and later switched over to the Congress in 1984.

The veteran politician was elected to Rajya Sabha for two consecutive terms between 1990 and 2002.

He was Speaker of the Assembly from 1989 to 1990 and 2013 to 2018.

Before the Assembly polls in November 2018, Hiphei resigned from his post, quit the Congress and joined the BJP. He contested from Palak constituency on a BJP ticket but lost to Congress nominee K.T. Rokhaw.

His body was sent to his home town Siaha from Mara House in Aizawl for funeral.

Mizoram governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai paid homage to the leader and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.

“I am saddened to learn about the demise of Hiphei. During his long and illustrious years of public service, including his stints as a Rajya Sabha member, he was a constant beacon that people could depend upon even in times of darkness. A champion of value-based politics, he was a classic example of a person with a difference and an ideal public worker. His life is an inspiration bestowed upon the people of Mizoram, and he stood for the cause of the nation as well,” Pillai said.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav also paid tribute to the leader.

“Condolences on the demise of a senior BJP leader and former Speaker of Mizoram Assembly Mr. Hiphei. He was a 2-term Rajya Sabha MP also. Hiphei joined BJP in 2018 and contested for Assembly,” Madhav tweeted.