Bengal Cong chief Mitra dies at 78
KOLKATA: West Bengal state Congress president Somen Mitra died of kidney and heart ailments at a private hospital early on Thursday. He was 78 and is survived by his son Rohan Mitra, a state youth Congress leader, and wife Sikha Mitra, a former legislator.
The death of the seventime former legislator from Kolkata’s Sealdah constituency, where he was famous for helping people in distress, shocked Congress workers.hundreds assembled at the state PCC headquarters, outside the state assembly where the body was taken, his residence and at the Nimtala crematorium.
Political leaders from across the spectrum mourned his death.
“Saddened to hear about the passing away of veteran leader, former MP and West
Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra. My deepest condolences to his family, followers and well-wishers,” tweeted chief minister Mamata Banerjee who left the Congress 22 years ago as a critic of Mitra and formed the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
“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,” tweeted Rahul Gandhi.
BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said, “Mitra was the face of the old political culture that was marked by decency, something we miss now.”