Veteran Nagaland politician and BJP legislator from Koridang Assembly constituency, Imkong L. Imchen, passed away in Guwahati on November 11 at the age of 75. At the time of his death, he was serving as the state government’s Advisor for Information and Public Relations (IPR) and Soil and Water Conservation. Officials said Imchen suffered a suspected heart attack and was admitted to a hospital in Kohima on November 7. He was later airlifted to Guwahati on November 10, where he breathed his last the following day. A state funeral was scheduled for November 12 at 9:30 a.m. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in mourning, describing Imchen as a dedicated leader who made significant contributions to Nagaland’s development. “Imkong L. Imchen Ji will be remembered for his outstanding contribution to Nagaland’s growth. He had been active in public life for several years and was particularly passionate about the welfare of tribal communities. His legislative and ministerial tenures will be fondly remembered,” Modi wrote on X.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla expressed deep sorrow, stating that the state had lost a “dedicated and sincere leader.” Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio offered an emotional tribute, recalling his long association with Imchen. “He was not only a colleague but also a dear friend. I knew him as a warm, cheerful, and outspoken person who stood up for what he believed in. He was a visionary leader with the rare ability to connect with people from all walks of life,” Rio said. Born in Mangmetong village of Mokokchung district, Imchen began his public life through student activism, serving as chairman of an action panel at North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, and as general secretary of the Naga Students’ Federation. He entered politics in 1989 as secretary of the Mokokchung District Congress Committee and was first elected to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly in 2003.
Over his political career, Imchen held multiple ministerial portfolios, including Rural Development, Health and Family Welfare, Power, School Education, Forest and Climate Change, and Home. A former leader of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), he joined the BJP ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections, continuing to play an active role in the state’s political landscape.
