West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who could not go to New Delhi to attend the funeral of departed BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who passed away Tuesday evening because of her prescheduled programmesin Chennai expressed heartfelt grief and shock over the sudden demiseof an able leader “with whom I enjoyed a close relationship.”
Calling Sushma an “outstanding politician” known for her grace, poise,humor and magnanimity, Banerjee tweeted “deeply saddened, shocked atthe sudden passing away of Sushma Swaraj Ji.”
Recalling her three-decade-old relationship with the departed leadershe said “I knew her since the 1990s. Even though her ideologiesdiffered, we shared many cordial times in Parliament. An outstanding politician, leader, good human being. Will miss her,” Banerjee wrote.
On whether the Chief Minister had any chance of going to Delhi to meet the bereaved family a close associate of Banerjee and a senior Bengal Trinamool leader said, “you never know, she may leave for Delhi once she has finished with her preoccupations in Chennai.
“Before becoming the CM of Bengal Mamata didi was an MP for more than 25 years in which respect she had developed close chemistry with many leaders in the Capital. Out of them Sushma ji, Margaret Alva were a few to be named.” As soon as she heard about her death she directed party MP Derek O’Brien to visit Swaraj Ji’s residence on her behalf, the leader said.