Sheila Dikshit dies | Delhi government declares 2-day state mourning: Manish Sisodia

The Delhi government has decided to declare a two-day state mourning over the demise of former chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Saturday, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Senior Congress leader and three-time former Dikshit passed away at a private hospital here after suffering a cardiac arrest, doctors said. She was 81.

Dikshit breathed her last at 3.55 pm at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute.  She was brought to the hospital Saturday morning in a "critical condition with cardiac arrest", a Fortis Escorts statement said.

"A multi-disciplinary team of doctors, led by Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, carried out the advanced resuscitative measures. Her condition stabilised temporarily. However, she had another cardiac arrest and despite all the resuscitative efforts, passed away at 3:55pm on July 20, 2019," it said.

The Delhi unit of the Congress said that her body has been kept at her Nizamuddin East residence and the last rites would be performed on Sunday at the Nigambodh ghat.

Dikshit was president of Delhi Congress. She served as Delhi's chief minister for 15 years from 1998-2013 and also served as the governor of Kerala.

She unsuccessfully fought the recent Lok Sabha elections from the North-East Delhi constituency. She represented New Delhi constituency in Delhi Vidhan Sabha.

Dikshit became an MP for the first time from Kannauj Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh in 1984. She was also a close associate of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and a minister in his cabinet.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were among those who condoled her death.

Kovind said Dikshit's term in office was a period of momentous transformation for the capital for which she will be remembered. Naidu termed her a good administrator.

Condoling the demise of Dikshit, Modi said she made a noteworthy contribution to Delhi's development.

"Deeply saddened by the demise of Sheila Dikshit Ji. Blessed with a warm and affable personality, she made a noteworthy contribution to Delhi's development," he tweeted.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he was devastated to hear the news. He called her a "beloved daughter of the Congress Party, with whom I shared a close personal bond".

He said she served "selflessly as a three-term chief minister".

Kejriwal said Dikshit's death is a huge loss for Delhi and her contribution will always be remembered.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said the country has lost a dedicated Congress Leader of the masses.

(With PTI inputs)