March 20: Former Assam home minister Bhrigu Kumar Phukan lost his battle for life late this evening.

He was one of the signatories of the Assam Accord of 1985 and a leading light of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).

The former general secretary of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) ? a role that made him a force in the state’s political arena ? would have been 50 years old on April 25.

Doctors attending on him at the gastroenterological ward of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi said the end came at 8.20 pm. He was suffering from severe liver and lung infection.

His wife and sister were by his side when the end came. His body is likely to be shifted to Assam Bhawan before it is flown to Guwahati tomorrow for the last rites.

“Either by design or by fate, he did not get his due. It is time we made amends,” was how a long-time associate of his in the AGP described his demise.

The AASU top brass ? adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya, president Shankar Prasad Roy and general secretary Tapan Gogoi ? paid glowing tributes to their former leader.

“It’s a great loss for Assam. He was a selfless, fearless and clean man,” said Gogoi.

Phukan was shifted to the AIIMS on February 27 from the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals and put on life support system on March 17. But his condition continued to deteriorate.

The former home minister was tipped to contest the Jalukbari seat in next month’s Assembly election, but his ailment compelled the AGP to change its plans and nominate Pushpa Deka.

His untimely death is bound to cast a pall of gloom on electioneering in the constituency. He won the seat twice before losing it in 2001.

Former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said it was a personal loss for him. “In his demise, the state has lost a great leader,” said Mahanta, once his closest comrade and later an arch foe.

AGP president Brindaban Goswami said the soft-spoken Phukan was a symbol of political conviction, who gave direction and leadership to the Assam agitation. “I hope Bhrigu is born again and again in Assam to provide dynamic and courageous leadership to future generations.”

Another associate of Phukan, Trinamool Gana Parishad leader Atul Bora, said: “Phukan was like a younger brother to me. I don’t have the words to describe my profound grief. It is a great loss to the state.”

Former Gauhati University vice-chancellor Deba Prasad Baruah, an ideologue of the Assam agitation, expressed his grief as he recalled Phukan’s student days under him.