Somnath Chatterjee, former Lok Sabha Speaker, dies

Kolkata: Veteran communist leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee died today morning in Kolkata. He was 89 years old.

Chatterjee was admitted to a private hospital here on August 8 after having suffered a heart attack. He had been on ventilator since and his condition deteriorated on Sunday morning.

The 10-time parliamentarian had been keeping indifferent health for the last two months.

After a hemorrhagic stroke last month, and subsequent hospital stay, his condition improved, only to be back in hospital again on Tuesday following what doctors termed, " a mild heart attack".

“Chatterjee suffered a mild heart attack this morning, but was revived. He is in the ICU and is responding to treatment,” Press Trust of India quoted a doctor as saying.

Chatterjee joined CPI(M) in 1968 and rose in ranks entering the party’s central committee. He served as the Speaker of Lok Sabha between 2004 and 2009.

The veteran leader was expelled from the CPI (M) after he refused to resign as Speaker when the party withdrew support to the UPA-1 government.

Leaders across party lines came out paying homage to the departed leader.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi hailed him as "an institution", respected by all parliamentarians.

"I mourn the passing away of Somnath Chatterjee," news agency IANS quoted him as saying. Aam Aadmi leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal dubbed him as "one of the greatest Lok Sabha Speakers India ever had".

"Extremely sad news about Somnath Chatterjeeji. One of the greatest parliamentarians of contemporary times he will always be missed by this country," Kejriwal tweeted.

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With inputs from PTI and IANS