Sheila Dikshit, Former Delhi Chief Minister, Passes Away

New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister and state Congress Chief Sheila Dikshit died after prolonged illness in Delhi’s Fortis Escorts heart institute today.

She was admitted to Escorts hospital a few days ago. She served as the chief minister of Delhi for a period of 15 years from 1998 to 2013.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were among the first ones to offer condolences on the former Delhi CM’s demise.

Eighty-year-old Sheila Dikshit underwent a heart surgery in France last year. She recently fought Lok Sabha elections from North East Delhi, but was defeated by BJP candidate Manoj Tiwari.

She was one of the tallest leader of the Congress party and was the longest serving Chief Minister of Delhi. She lost the 2013 Delhi state elections after ruling the state for three consecutive term following allegations of corruption.

In the December 2013 state elections, 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 in 2013.

She started her political career from Uttar Pradesh as a Member of Parliament from Kannauj constituency between 1984 and 1989.

She did her schooling from Convent of Jesus and Mary School in New Delhi and completed her MA in history from the Miranda House college at the University of Delhi.