Nagaland Governor La Ganesan passes away at 80; PM Modi and other leaders condole death

Ganeshan, a senior BJP leader and an RSS activist from Tamil Nadu, was appointed as the 21st Nagaland Governor in February 2023. On August 8, Ganesan had collapsed at his home in Chennai and sustained a head injury

Nagaland Governor, La Ganeshan died in a private hospital in his home city Chennai on Friday, where he was admitted recently following a fall and head injury.

He was 80.

An official at Raj Bhavan in Nagaland capital Kohima said Ganeshan breathed his last at the Chennai hospital at 6.23pm.

An official said the Governor fell down at his home in Chennai on August 8, following which he was taken to the hospital and was in ICU since then.

Ganeshan, a senior BJP leader and an RSS activist from Tamil Nadu, was appointed as the 21st Nagaland Governor in February 2023. He had served as Governor of Manipur and West Bengal before being appointed as Nagaland Governor. He was also elected to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh before he was made a Governor.

As a Governor, Ganeshan continued his efforts to find a solution to the decades-long Naga conflict and had taken many steps to check drug abuse, particularly among youths in Nagaland.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were among many prominent persons who condoled Ganeshan's demise.

Prime Minister Modi, in an X post, said, "Pained by the passing of Nagaland Governor Thiru La. Ganesan Ji. He will be remembered as a devout nationalist, who dedicated his life to service and nation-building. He worked hard to expand the BJP across Tamil Nadu. He was deeply passionate about Tamil culture too. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Om Shanti."

Biren Singh, in a post on X, said, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri La Ganesan Ji, Hon'ble Governor of Nagaland and former Governor of Manipur. He will be remembered for his sincere commitment to the welfare of our state and his devoted service to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones in this moment of grief. May his soul rest in eternal peace."

"Even in the midst of serious matters, he always brought ease with his gentle humour and warmth, a memory I will always cherish," Singh added.

Ganesan served as the 15th governor of Manipur from August 27, 2021 till February 19, 2023.