Northeast Desk, 28th December: Agartala mourns the loss of Surajit Datta, a stalwart BJP MLA representing the 7 Ramnagar Assembly Constituency, who passed away late on Wednesday night. Datta, a seven-time MLA, battled prolonged health issues, primarily kidney complications resulting from high blood sugar and pressure, undergoing dialysis for the past few years.
His health took a critical turn two days ago, leading to his admission to a hospital in Agartala and subsequent referral to AMRI Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon. Despite efforts, Datta succumbed to his ailments at 11:30 pm.
Notable political figures, including Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik, and Leader of the Opposition Animesh Debbarma, visited him during his deteriorating health at the Agartala Hospital. Originally elected as a Congress candidate in 1988 from Ramnagar, Datta served as the PWD minister before transitioning to Trinamool Congress and later joining the BJP. Remarkably, he consistently secured victories in Ramnagar since 1988, maintaining an uninterrupted winning streak even amidst health challenges. Datta’s mortal remains are expected to be brought tomorrow, marking the end of an era in Agartala politics.