Sheila Dikshit, 3-Time Delhi Chief Minister, Passes Away At 81

Senior Congress leader and former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit passed away at the Escorts Hospital here on Saturday.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Getty Images

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader and former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit passed away at the Escorts Hospital here on Saturday. She was 81. "Dikshit died at Escorts Hospital here," Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Jitender Kumar Kochar said. She was admitted to Escorts hospital a few days ago. She breathed her last around 3.55 p.m. Dixit served as the chief minister of Delhi for a period of 15 years from 1998 to 2013 and was unwell for some time. She 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. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise Dikshit, saying she made a noteworthy contribution to Delhi's development. In a tweet, he offered his condolence to her family and supporters. "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 said. "Condolences to her family and supporters. Om Shanti," Modi said.

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. Condolences to her family and supporters. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/jERrvJlQ4X

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 20, 2019

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condoled the demise of his predecessor Sheila Dikshit and said her contribution will always be remembered. "Just now got to know about the extremely terrible news about the passing away of Mrs Sheila Dikshit ji. It is a huge loss for Delhi and her contribution will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to her family members. May her soul rest in peace," Kejriwal posted on Twitter. In view of Dikshit's demise, the chief minister also cancelled his scheduled trip to Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu and Kashmir. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he was devastated to hear about the passing away of Dikshit and called her a "beloved daughter" of the party. In a tweet, Gandhi said, "I am devastated to hear about the passing away of Sheila Dikshit Ji, a beloved daughter of the Congress Party, with whom I shared a close personal bond. My condolences to her family & the citizens of Delhi, whom she served selflessly as a three-term chief minister, in this time of great grief." The Congress, in its official Twitter handle, posted, "We regret to hear of the passing (away) of Smt Sheila Dikshit. Lifelong congresswoman and as three time CM of Delhi she transformed the face of Delhi. Our condolences to her family and friends. Hope they find strength in this time of grief." Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also condoled the demise of his party colleague Dikshit. "Deeply sad and anguished to know about the demise of Sheila Dikshit ji. It is a great loss for Congress," Gehlot tweeted. "She was a mass leader and would be hugely missed," he added.