TURA, Feb 7: Former UDP MLA and Minister from Garo Hills, Nimarson Momin has passed away after a prolonged illness on February 6th night. He was 69 years old.

A veteran regional leader of the UDP for close to four decades, Nimarson first contested his election in 1983 as an Indian National Congress candidate from Salmanpara but lost to Meckenson K Sangma of the AHL by 254 votes.

He won the MLa election of 1988 as an Independent candidate from Salmanpara in 1988.

In 1993 he lost to Gopinath K Sangma of the Congress by 424 votes.

In 1998 he returned to power by defeating Gopinath K Sangma of the Congress by 787 votes.

He again lost to Gopinath K Sangma of the new party NCP in 2003 but resurfaced victorious in the 2008 assembly elections as the UDP candidate where he went on to become a minister for food and civil supplies and other departments.