PA Sangma, an eight-time MP from Meghalaya, rose to prominence in national politics after the 11th Lok Sabha unanimously elected him as Speaker. He drafted a new chapter in running the House – that too at the difficult times when the country was experiencing a coalition government, where no party had majority.

Veteran politicians remember him as a person who could win the confidence of all members. Senior Congressman PC Chacko, who was in the panel chairpersons of Lok Sabha, remembers the glorious moment of Sangma’s two-year speakership during the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the country’s Independence.

“He took a decision that all 540 members should get time to speak at least for five minutes. It took one day and one night for everyone to speak. I, as a Chairman, had to sit continuously for seven-eight hours as no other panel members were available in the night. Sangma minced no words to congratulate me the next day and said in his speech that it was for the first time that someone was presiding the House for eight hours. This showed his character. He was humble, accessible and took right action at the right time to control the House,” Chacko, a long-time colleague of Sangma, told BusinessLine .

Sangma, in his autobiographical account, A Life In Politics , said he owes his political career to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Sangma was from a humble background and occupied several posts, including the Chief Minister of Meghalaya and a Minister in the Union Cabinet.

He was a post-graduate in political science and a graduate in law. “Known for his meticulous homework, complete mastery of subject at hand and phenomenal memory for facts and details, Sangma was one Minister who could reply to a heated debate in Parliament without the aid of officials’ slips from the officers’ gallery,” says his profile in the book.

Welfare work

As Labour Minister, Sangma introduced a number of welfare schemes for workers, particularly the unorganised sector, minorities and tribals. He steadfastly supported affirmative actions and reservations for oppressed people.

Though he resigned from the Congress questioning Sonia Gandhi’s leadership and formed the NCP in 1999, he maintained close links with the Congress leadership.

“The Nation has lost a tall leader and the North-East has lost an important voice,” Sonia Gandhi said. He associated with the Trinamool Congress too, briefly, and was a member of Lok Sabha representing the National People’s Party at the time of his death.

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