Kolkata, Oct 29 (IANS): West Bengal Legislative Assembly deputy speaker and Trinamool Congress MLA from Jhargram constituency Sukumar Hansda died of cancer at a private city hospital on Thursday. He was 67.

The Trinamool lawmaker was admitted to the state-run SSKM Hospital but was shifted to a private medical facility a few days ago. Earlier, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

"Deeply grieved to hear about the passing away of West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker and Jhargram MLA Shri Sukumar Hansda. He was also serving as All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) state vice-president. His relentless service for people shall always be remembered," West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, condoling Hansda's bereaved family members.

A doctor by profession, Hansda took charge as the Deputy Speaker in December 2018 after the demise of former deputy speaker Haider Aziz Safwi.

He became the minister for Paschimanchal Unnayan Affairs between 2011 and 2016 after the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government stormed to power in Bengal in 2011. But he was included in the state cabinet despite being re-elected for the second term.

His father, Subodh Chandra Hansda, was a Union minister in a Congress government during 1957-62.