Agartala/UNI: Tripura CPI(M) MLA Samsul Haque from the Boxanagar Assembly Constituency died of cardiac arrest on Wednesday in the wee hours at Agartala Govt Medical College (AGMC).

He was 68. Haque was survived by his wife, four sons, and relatives.

He was elected for the first time in the assembly in March, this year though he had joined the CPI-M party in 1972. The demise of Haque has reduced the strength of CPI-M to 10 in the assembly.

According to CPI-M party sources, Haque came to Agartala on Tuesday along with his daughter in-law for treatment. He suddenly fell ill in the MLA hostel around 2 AM, his colleagues and staff immediately took him to the hospital, where he was declared dead.

His body would be first taken to the assembly house, then to CPI-M party office for paying tribute to his mortal remains, and thereafter to his native village Kulubari of Sonamura where his last rite would be performed as per the rituals.

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, Leader of the Opposition Animesh Debbarma, Speaker of the Assembly Biswabandhu Sen, Deputy Speaker Ramprasad Paul, and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman expressed grief over the untimely death of Samsul Haque and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.

CPI-M State Secretary and legislative party leader Jitendra Chaudhury, former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhoumik also expressed condolences over his death.