Politics

Former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee passes away

Kolkata | Former Lok Sabha speaker and veteran CPI(M) leader Somnath Chatterjee on Monday passed away in Kolkatta at the age of 89.

Chatterjee suffering from Kidney related problems was admitted in Kolkatta Hospital on Wednesday. Somnath Chatterjee was put on ventilator support after he suffered a heart attack. “He suffered a multiple organ failure and had stopped responding to treatment since late last night. He passed away this morning at around 8.15 am,” the official told PTI.

Somnath Chatterjee was the speaker of Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2009 during the UPA1 government. A lawyer by profession and 10time Member of Lok Sabha, Chatterjee was expelled from his party after he refused to resign from the post of speaker in 2008 when CPI(M) withdrew its support from the UPA1 government during the Indo-American Nuclear deal. He also won the outstanding Parliamentarian award in the year 1996.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi expressed his condolence on the demise of Chatterjee. Taking on Twitter Gandhi wrote,”I mourn the passing away of Shri Somnath Chatterjee, 10 term MP and former Speaker of the Lok Sabha. He was an institution. Greatly respected and admired by all parliamentarians, across party lines. My condolences to his family at this time of grief.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolence, He said,”Former MP and Speaker Shri Somnath Chatterjee was a stalwart of Indian politics. He made our Parliamentary democracy richer and was a strong voice for the well-being of the poor and vulnerable. Anguished by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and supporters.”

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