Three-time Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit dead, tributes pour in

Three-time Delhi chief minister and senior Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, who gave the national capital its modern look, passed away Saturday afternoon at a private hospital here after suffering a cardiac arrest.

She was 81.

Dikshit breathed her last at 3.55 pm at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, doctors said.

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 3:55 pm on July 20, 2019," it said.

Her body has been kept at her Nizamuddin East residence, where several leaders from Congress and opposition parties, visited to pay their last respects. The last rites would be performed on Sunday at the Nigambodh ghat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited her residence and was accompanied by Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ahmed Patel, Kiran Walia, Jagdish Tytler, Shivraj Patil, Nagma and Ashok Walia, BJP's Vijay Goel and CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat were among those who came to pay their last respects.

Dikshit was one of Congress's tallest leaders. She was president of Delhi Congress. She served as Delhi's chief minister for 15 years from 1998-2013.

Known as a warm and affable politician, Dikshit carried out massive infrastructure development of Delhi during her tenure. She also launched a number of social welfare schemes with involvement of resident welfare associations as part of her participatory model of governance.

An able administrator, Dikshit could get along well with politicians from all parties for which she drew widespread respect.

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. She also served as governor of Kerala.

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.

Goel said he had family relations with her and used to meet and have political discussions. "She could win her rivals with her smile."

Yechury said millions of people benefitted from the contribution she made to the development of Delhi. "Even when illness struck her, she continued to fight."

Karat termed her a politician marked by complete modesty and total lack of pride and arrogance.