The oldest sitting legislator of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Noke Wangnao Konyak, passed away on Monday in Dimapur due to illness. He was 87.

At the time of his demise, Noke was Advisor, Social Welfare department, Government of Nagaland.

Meanwhile, the Home department of Nagaland said a state funeral was held this afternoon to pay last respects and homage to the late Noke Wangnao, Advisor of Social Welfare, who passed away at CIHSR (hospital) early Monday. The funeral service took place at his residence near Spirit of Faith Church, Nagarjan, Dimapur.

Condoling the demise of Nagaland veteran politician, the Eastern Naga National Workers Union (ENNWU) of NSCN-IM said it was shocked and saddened to learn the sudden demise of Noke Wangnao Konyak, Advisor, Social Welfare (Government of Nagaland) at Referral Hospital (CIHSR) in Dimapur today, He was one of the senior most politicians in Nagaland and was elected from Tapi assembly constituency under Mon district.

Being one of the senior most elected members in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, he had earlier served as minister in various capacities. “His sudden demise is a great loss to the Nagas in general and Eastern Nagas in particular. The void left behind by his untimely death will be hard to fill in the days to
Come,” the Union stated.

Advisor, Information and Public Relations, Soil and Water Conservation, Imkong L. Imchen, said Noke Wangnao was one of the tallest leaders of the regional politics in Nagaland, being elected nine times to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. “He always loved to speak out the truth, no matter what”, Imchen stated. He also said Noke was a man of integrity in Naga politics.