Kolkata: West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra has died due to age-related ailments at a city hospital. He was 78.
Mitra, who was admitted to a hospital here with kidney ailments a few days ago, passed away at around 1.30 am on Thursday following a cardiac arrest, the hospital sources told PTI.
He had tested negative for COVID-19, they said.
“He was admitted to the hospital due to kidney and heart ailments,” a family member said, confirming the news of the Congress leader’s death.
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled his demise.
Dhankhar said that as constitutional head of the state, he was enormously benefited by Mitra’s wise counsel on several occasions.
“Saddened at the death of veteran Congress leader Somen Mitra. As constitutional head was enormously benefited by his wise counsel on several occasions,” the governor said in a message.
“Bengal will always recall his sagacious contributions in public life,” Dhankhar wrote in the social media message.
The chief minister said she was saddened to hear about the passing away of Mitra.
“Saddened to hear about the passing away of veteran leader, former MP and INC West Bengal president Somen Mitra,” Banerjee said in a message.
“My deepest condolences to his family, followers and well-wishers,” she wrote in her social media handle.
Mitra, a veteran Congress leader and former Lok Sabha MP, is survived by his wife and son.
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