Veteran Congress leader Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury passes away at the age of 89

Veteran Congress leader and four-time Member of Parliament Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury passed away at the age of 89 at a private hospital in Kolkata on Wednesday night after suffering from age-related ailments. A prominent political figure from Malda, he had served as a Union junior minister for health during his long public career.

Known widely as “Dalu,” Choudhury was elected to Parliament multiple times from the Malda region and played a key role in strengthening the Congress organisation in the district. He rose to national prominence after succeeding his elder brother, former railway minister Ghani Khan Choudhury, as the political face of Malda following his brother’s death in 2006. Following constituency delimitation, he went on to represent the Malda South parliamentary seat, winning four consecutive terms from 2009. Over the years, he remained one of the most influential Congress leaders in the region, maintaining a strong political base and organisational network in Malda district.

He is survived by his son Isha Khan Choudhury, the current MP from Malda South. Political leaders described his death as a significant loss for the party, noting that he played a crucial role in sustaining the Congress presence in Malda after the passing of his elder brother.