WATCH: LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan breaks down while remembering 'elder brother' Somnath Chatterjee

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee died at a private clinic following a cardiac arrest and prolonged illness.

Image: ANI

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan broke down while remembering veteran politician Somnath Chatterjee who died on Monday. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee died at a private clinic following a cardiac arrest and prolonged illness. In the video shared by new agency ANI, Sumitra Mahajan said “Somnath Da (Chatterjee) was a big brother to me. Our ideology was different but still, from the time I entered Parliament in '89, I used to see how he used to raise issues while following every rule. His tenure as a speaker was a guidance for me”

#WATCH: Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan tears up while talking about #SomnathChatterjee who passed away this morning; says, 'he was like an elder brother to me' pic.twitter.com/ff1EXtdUXI

— ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also recalled his contributions saying: "He made our Parliamentary democracy richer and was a strong voice for the well-being of the poor and vulnerable."

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.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 13, 2018

An advocate by profession, he actively joined politics in 1968. During his tenure as the Speaker, Chatterjee discontinued the practice of paying for toiletries and tea from the national exchequer. It is also said that Chatterjee paid the expenses of any accompanying family members on foreign trips. Conferred the "Outstanding Parliamentarian Award" in 1996, Chatterjee was known for his debating skills with extensive knowledge of national and international issues, delivered in his deep baritone voice, interspersed with wit and humour.  He adorned several parliamentary committees as chairman or as a member and was respected by leaders across the political arena. Chatterjee is survived by wife Renu, a son and two daughters.