Guwahati: Former Assam Education Minister Jatin Mali passed away on Friday at the age of 69 following a stroke. He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Guwahati.
A senior political figure in the state, Mali had a long and active public career, serving as Education Minister in the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) government. He was a multiple-term MLA from the Palashbari Assembly constituency, having been elected in 1985, 1991, 1996 and 2011, underscoring his enduring influence in the region. He had also contested the recent Assembly elections as an independent candidate from the same constituency.
Mali’s political journey began in student activism. He served as General Secretary of the South Kamrup Students’ Union during 1976–77, and later became a state executive member of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) in 1981, where he played a role in the implementation of the Assam Accord. In 1983, he served as President of the North East Students’ Union (NESO).
In addition to his role in state politics, Mali also had a stint in national politics. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Kaliabor constituency in 1967, 1971 and 1977 as a member of the Indian National Congress.
Mali’s demise marks the end of a political career spanning several decades, during which he remained closely associated with both student movements and mainstream electoral politics in Assam.