(Image source from: The Indian Express)

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, 89, passed away at a private hospital on Monday morning following multiple organ failure.

Chatterjee passed away at about 8:15 a.m. after his condition deteriorated following Sunday's "mild heart attack", said a hospital official from Belle Vue Clinic hospital where the former Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader was undergoing treatment.

He was suffering from a kidney-related ailment and was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition on Tuesday last. He was in the Intensive Coronary Care Unit and had been put on ventilation. Earlier this month, the former speaker had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke.

Chatterjee, a 10-time Lok Sabha Member of parliament 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.

In 2008 from the CPI (M), Somnath Chatterjee was expelled for refusing to renounce as the Speaker after his party withdrew assist to the UPA-I authorities.​

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."

Leaders from across the political spectrum mourned his death.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Chatterjee's demise and described him as 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," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, in a tweet, expressed his deep sorrow over the passing away of Chatterjee.

By Sowmya Sangam