New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday condoled the death of former union minister B.K. Handique, saying his journey in public life was "remarkable".

Gandhi in a message said Handique was a valued member of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance governments and the void created by his death would be hard to fill.

Handique, a Congress leader from Assam, died at the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital on Sunday. He was 80.

A contemporary of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, he represented the Jorhat Lok Sabha constituency for six consecutive times since 1991. He held several portfolios in the union government.