Somnath Chatterjee, Former Lok Sabha Speaker, Dies at 89 in Kolkata
A 10-time Lok Sabha MP, Chatterjee was a central committee member of the CPI(M), which he had joined in 1968. He was the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2009.
File photo of former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. (Photo: REUTERS/B Mathur)
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Kolkata: Former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee passed away in Kolkata on Monday morning. He was 89 years old.
“Today morning he was undergoing dialysis when his heart stopped and he could not be revived,” said a doctor from the hospital where the former CPI(M) leader was undergoing treatment.
Chatterjee, who was suffering from a kidney-related ailment, was admitted to the hospital last week. He suffered a mild heart attack on Sunday morning, but was revived. He was in the ICCU and has been put on ventilation. Last month, the former speaker had suffered a haemorrhagic stroke.
A 10-time Lok Sabha MP, Chatterjee was a central committee member of the CPI(M), which he had joined in 1968. He was the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2009.
The veteran leader was, however, expelled from the CPI(M) in 2008 for refusing to resign as the Speaker after his party withdrew support to the UPA-I government.
CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said, “It’s a big setback for us. Today, we lost Somnath da around 8.15 am at a private hospital in Kolkata.”
Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi expressed his condolences for the demise of the leader. He tweeted: "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. #SomnathChatterjee"
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a tweet said Chatterjee was "..greatly respected and admired by all parliamentarians, across party lines".
“Today morning he was undergoing dialysis when his heart stopped and he could not be revived,” said a doctor from the hospital where the former CPI(M) leader was undergoing treatment.
Chatterjee, who was suffering from a kidney-related ailment, was admitted to the hospital last week. He suffered a mild heart attack on Sunday morning, but was revived. He was in the ICCU and has been put on ventilation. Last month, the former speaker had suffered a haemorrhagic stroke.
A 10-time Lok Sabha MP, Chatterjee was a central committee member of the CPI(M), which he had joined in 1968. He was the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2009.
The veteran leader was, however, expelled from the CPI(M) in 2008 for refusing to resign as the Speaker after his party withdrew support to the UPA-I government.
CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said, “It’s a big setback for us. Today, we lost Somnath da around 8.15 am at a private hospital in Kolkata.”
Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi expressed his condolences for the demise of the leader. He tweeted: "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. #SomnathChatterjee"
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. #SomnathChatterjee
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 13, 2018
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a tweet said Chatterjee was "..greatly respected and admired by all parliamentarians, across party lines".
Extremely sad news about Somnath Chatterjee ji. One of the greatest parliamentarians of contemporary times he will always be missed by this country. He will be remembered among the greatest Lok Sabha Speakers India ever had. https://t.co/dpnsE9ME1a
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) 13 August 2018