Shillong, April 23: The mortal remains of former Meghalaya Chief Minister, (L) J. Dringwell Rymbai, one of the stalwarts and prominent politicians of the state, were laid to rest with full state honours at the cemetery of the Mawlai Phudmuri Presbyterian Church on Saturday.
Rymbai breathed his last on Thursday morning at his residence in Mawlai Nongpathaw due to age-related ailments. He was 87. He is survived by his wife, three daughters and two sons.
The former Meghalaya Chief Minister was accorded a state funeral at Madan Heh, Mawlai Phudmuri, Shillong on Saturday which was attended by various dignitaries including Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh, Dy CM Prestone Tynsong, Health Minister James K Sangma, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, former CM and Leader of Opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma, C&RD Minister Hamletson Dohling among others who paid their last respect to the veteran leader.
The funeral also included 3 round of 21-gun salute in honour of Rymbai.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma could not be present but his condolence message was read out by Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills District, Isawanda Laloo.
Rymbai had served as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya from June 15, 2006 till March, 2007. Regarded as a loyalist of former Chief Minister DD Lapang, Rymbai had replaced Lapang as the CM of Meghalaya in 2006.
He entered active politics in 1983 and became a member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly after winning from Jirang constituency on a Congress ticket. He was elected as Deputy Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in 1983. He was re-elected as MLA of Jirang three times consecutively in 1993, 1998 and 2003. In 1993 he was elected as the Speaker.
He handled important portfolios such as Taxation, C&RD, PWD, Excise Stamps and Registration, Forest & Environment, Soil & Water Conservation, Transport and Trade in different years in his journey as a politician.
