Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury passed away after a prolonged illness here on Thursday.

The 72-year-old veteran politician breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, where he had been admitted since August 19.

He is survived by wife Seema Chisti, a journalist, and a daughter from his previous marriage.

In a statement, the AIIMS said, “Sitaram Yechury, aged 72, was admitted to AIIMS on 19th August with pneumonia and passed away on 12th September at 3:05 pm.”

The family has donated his body to the premier institute for teaching and research purposes, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Yechury was a leading light of the Left party.

“Saddened by the passing away of Shri Sitaram Yechury Ji. He was a leading light of the Left and was known for his ability to connect across the political spectrum. He also made a mark as an effective Parliamentarian. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti,” he said on ‘X’.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed his heartfelt condolences on the passing away of the Left veteran.

“… Comrade Sitaram Yechury ji was a humble leader who chartered the unique territory of balancing personal equations with unflinching political ideologies. A excellent Parliamentarian and an outstanding intellectual, he served the people of India with pragmatism blended with idealism. It is a great loss for all the liberal forces, for he was the collective conscience keeper of progressives. Our final salute to a friend and a compatriot of liberalism, the Indian polity shall deeply miss him,” he said.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said, “Sitaram Yechury ji was a friend. A protector of the Idea of India with a deep understanding of our country. I will miss the long discussions we used to have. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and followers in this hour of grief.”

Yechury was on respiratory support at AIIMS for the last few days.

Meanwhile, the CPI (M) in a post on ‘X’ wrote, “It is with profound grief that we announce the passing away of CPIM General Secretary, our beloved Comrade Sitaram Yechury, at 3.03 pm today, 12th September, at the AIIMS, New Delhi. He was suffering from a respiratory tract infection which developed complications.”

“We thank the doctors, nursing staff and the Director of the Institute for the excellent treatment and care extended to Comrade Yechury. Details of public viewing and homage will be informed,” the party said.

It may be mentioned that he was the Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal from 2005 to 2017.

Yechury was one of the prominent leaders who played an important role in the formation of the INDIA bloc before the Lok Sabha elections to take on the ruling BJP.