Former Minister and MLA Siddeque Ahmed Dies at 63

Veteran Barak Valley politician and former Assam minister Siddeque Ahmed died on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at his residence in Baraigram in Sribhumi district. He was 63.

Ahmed had been undergoing treatment for cancer and died following a prolonged illness. His death has drawn condolences from political leaders across party lines, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Ahmed was a four-time MLA from the Karimganj South constituency and served as a minister in the Tarun Gogoi-led Assam government. His political career spanned more than two decades and made him a prominent figure in Barak Valley politics.

He was first elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly from Karimganj South in 2001 on a Samata Party ticket. He defeated Congress candidate Abdul Muqtadir Choudhury.

In 2006, Ahmed contested as an Independent and retained the constituency by defeating BJP candidate Sipra Goon. He joined the Indian National Congress ahead of the 2011 Assembly election and won the seat again, defeating Trinamool Congress candidate Ekbal Hussain.

Ahmed lost Karimganj South to AIUDF’s Aziz Ahmed Khan in the 2016 Assembly election. He returned to the Assembly in 2021 as a Congress candidate after defeating Aziz Ahmed Khan.

During his tenure in the Assam government, Ahmed held several important portfolios. From May 2011 to July 2014, he served as Minister of State with Independent Charge for Co-operation and Border Areas Development.

He was later elevated to Cabinet rank in January 2015 and handled portfolios including Industries and Commerce, Power and Public Enterprises until the Congress government completed its term in May 2016.

Ahmed was known for his involvement in regional administrative issues, infrastructure concerns and matters affecting communities in the border district of Karimganj. His political career also saw periods of internal party differences and local controversies.

With his death, Barak Valley has lost a veteran political figure who represented Karimganj South across four Assembly terms and served in the Assam cabinet.