New Delhi, August 22:  After the death of Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat on Wednesday, condolences for the veteran leader have been pouring in. Party sources informed that Kamat passed away after a brief illness. He was 63. The veteran leader breathed his last in Primus Hospital in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi on Wednesday.

Kamat was a Member of Parliament for the Mumbai North-West constituency in 2009 and the Mumbai North East constituency in 1984, 1991, 1998 and 2004. In its condolence message, the Congress said that Kamat's will be missed dearly by the Party. "We are saddened to hear about the passing of Shri Gurudas Kamat. He will be missed dearly by his family, friends and the Congress Party", the Congress tweeted.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and said Kamat's sudden passing away is a massive blow to the Congress family. "Gurudas ji helped build the Congress party in Mumbai & was greatly respected & admired by all. My condolences to his family in their time of grief. May his soul rest in peace". Gandhi said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter and said Kamat was a seasoned leader who had also served the nation as the MoS in the MHA. "Anguished by the sudden demise of former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Shri Gurudas Kamat. He was a seasoned leader who had also served the nation as the MoS in the MHA. My thoughts are with his family and supporters", Singh said.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee in his condolence message said Kamat's passing away at such young age is tragic. "Shocked and pained at the sudden and untimely demise of Shri Gurudas Kamat. A colleague in the Government and the party for many years, his passing away at such young age is tragic", Mukherjee tweeted.

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha President Poonam Mahajan too took to Twitter and said, "Condolences on the demise of Shri Gurudas Kamat ji. One of the important Congress leaders of Maharashtra and a dignified man".

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described Gurudas Kamat as a leader who had displayed great organisational managing skills, strong connect and commitment to ordinary people, especially in Mumbai. “He was known for his blunt speak on matters related to the public cause. His demise is a huge loss,” Fadnavis said.

An advocate by profession, Kamat was a commerce graduate from the R A Podar College in Mumbai and also had a law degree from the Government Law College. Kamat was also a former president of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee. In 2010, Kamat was nominated to represent former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the UN International Conference on Federalism in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Respected across party lines, the 63-year old veteran leader served as the Minister of State for Home Affairs with an additional charge of Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India during 2009 to 2011. In July 2011, he resigned as minister.

Late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had picked Kamat as part of the four-member official delegation to the UN in 2003, along with former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2018 11:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).