West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra passes away

Kolkata: West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra has died due to age-related ailments at a city hospital. He was 78.

Mitra, who was admitted to a hospital here with kidney ailments a few days ago, passed away at around 1.30 am on Thursday following a cardiac arrest, the hospital sources told PTI.

He had tested negative for COVID-19, they said.

"He was admitted to the hospital due to kidney and heart ailments," a family member said, confirming the news of the Congress leader's death.

Mitra, a veteran Congress leader and former Lok Sabha MP, is survived by his wife and son.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condoled the passing away of party's West Bengal unit president Somen Mitra and



said that he will be remembered with "love, fondness and respect".

Mitra passed away at a Kolkata hospital early Thursday. He was 78.

"All my love and support to family and friends of Somen Mitra at this difficult time. We will remember him with love, fondness and respect," Gandhi said in a tweet.

Mitra passed away around 1.30 am following a cardiac arrest, the hospital sources said, adding that he had tested negative for COVID-19. He is survived by his wife and son.

A three-time president of the Congress West Bengal unit from 1992-1996, 1996-1998 and then again from September 2018, Mitra was a seven-term MLA from the Sealdah assembly constituency.