Former Meghalaya Chief Minister Salseng C Marak passed away aged 83 on Friday, August 16. Marak died due to age-related ailments at the Tura Civil Hospital in West Garo Hills district.

Marak was admitted to the Holy Cross Hospital on August 8, 2024 and was shifted to the Tura Civil Hospital on August 12.

According to his family members, the veteran Congress leader from Garo Hills had been grappling with poor health for the last few weeks and became very weak, leading to his hospitalisation.

His mortal remains have been taken to his home constituency of Resubelpara in North Garo Hills, where he will be laid to rest on Saturday.

Marak was also known as ‘Mr Clean’ for his relentless pursuit of a corruption-free and progressive Meghalaya.

He was the chief minister of the state from 1993 to 1998, becoming the first leader to serve a full 5–year term without changing party. He became the Chief Minister when the state was going through political instability during the early 1990s, when regional forces were at the forefront of government formations and takedowns.

Despite multiple attempts to bring down his government by regional forces, he completed a full term as Chief Minister.

Marak graduated from Kolkata’s Scottish Church College. He was also made the president of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) in 2003.

He had represented the Resubelpara constituency in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly consecutively from the 1970s till 2008.