The body of former Union minister and senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj will be kept for three hours at the BJP headquarters today for party workers and leaders to pay tributes, BJP working president JP Nadda said.

Nadda further said, “Her last rites will be performed at the Lodhi crematorium”.

Earlier on Tuesday night, her mortal remains were taken from AIIMS to her Delhi residence where they are kept for people to pay last respects.

A host of Union ministers and other senior party leaders visited AIIMS and met the bereaved family of the former external affairs minister.

A pall of gloom descended at the hospital as the news of her death left everyone in shock.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and Union Minister Smriti Irani were among the top leaders who visited the hospital.

“Her loss is irreparable and the void left by her can never be filled. It’s a huge loss to the party and the nation,” Nadda added.

The body was later taken to her residence in Delhi.

Senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain also grieved the loss, saying Swaraj had guided him in his career and “she was a leader liked by everyone, from the ruling to the opposition parties”.

Her contribution in the external affairs ministry is substantial as she left a mark in the field, he said.

Swaraj, 67, was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in a critical condition on Tuesday evening where she died after suffering a cardiac arrest, according to doctors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled her death and tweeted: “A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end. India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service & bettering lives of the poor. Sushma Swaraj Ji was one of her kind, who was a source of inspiration for crores of people.”

The Congress also offered its condolences and tweeted, “We are saddened to hear about the untimely demise of Smt Sushma Swaraj. Our condolences to her family and loved ones.”

Sushma Swaraj, who had a kidney transplant in 2016, had opted out of the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year citing health reasons.

(With PTI inputs)