Delhi government announces two-day state mourning and state funeral for former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit

In honour of Delhi's longest-serving Chief Minister - late Sheila Dikshit, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Saturday has announced the Delhi government will observe a two-day state mourning in her memory. He further added that she will be accorded a state funeral.

The last rites of Sheila Dikshit will be held at Nigam Bodh Ghat on Sunday while her mortal remains would be kept for people to pay tributes at her Nizamuddin residence till 11 AM, as per ANI.

Former Delhi Chief Minister & Congress Leader Sheila Dikshit Passes Away In Delhi At The Age Of 81 Years

Sheila Dikshit's last moments:

Earlier in the day, the 81-year old Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee passed away while undergoing treatment in Fortis Hospital, New Delhi. According to Dr Ashok Seth, director at Escorts Fortis revealed that Dikshit was managed well at the hospital. He shared that she suffered a cardiac arrest at 3:15 PM, was put on ventilator and passed away peacefully at 3:55 PM. 

Political leaders pay their respects:

Paying their tribute to the former Delhi Chief Minister politicians from various parties and celebrities have fondly remembered Sheila Dikshit for her 'warm and affectionate' nature. Most politicians have hailed her contribution to Delhi's progress, saying that the national capital and the grand old party would not be the same without her.

PM Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other political leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Manoj Tiwari have visited Dikshit Nizamuddin residence to pay their last respects.

Delhi's Longest-serving CM: Here's A Look Back At Congress Leader Sheila Dikshit's Political Career

Sheila Dikshit as Delhi CM:

Born on  31 March 1938, she was the longest-serving Chief Minister of Delhi, serving for a period of 15 years from 1998 to 2013.

Dikshit led Congress party to three consecutive electoral victories in Delhi. In the December 2013 elections to the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Dikshit was defeated in New Delhi constituency by Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, who replaced her as Delhi's chief minister.

Subsequently, she was sworn in as Governor of Kerala on 11 March 2014. The Congress party fought the recent Lok Sabha elections in Delhi under her leadership.