Mortal remains of Bengal Minister Subrata Mukherjee taken to Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata

Seventy-five-year-old Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee, widely known as the political mentor of Mamata Banerjee, passed away at the SSKM Hospital last night following a cardiac attack.

He was 75 and is survived by his wife.

Hundreds of people, followers, politicians including those from the opposition were seen in the queue to have a last view of their leader, who became the youngest (Congress) MLA in 1971 in volatile West Bengal, when the trigger happy Naxalites were threats to the mainstream political leaders.

Before the cremation at Keoratala in south Kolkata, the mortal remains of Subrata Mukherjee would be taken to the state assembly and then to his house at Ekdalia Park, also in south Kolkata.

The final journey of Mukherjee would be with state honour along with gun salutes by the state police.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the demise of her political guru, who was a seasoned politician and proficient administrator.

Banerjee, who is heartbroken by Mukherjee's demise, said she won't participate in the last rites as she can't face the mortal remains of her political mentor.

Subrata Mukherjee also held the Mayoral post of Kolkata Municipal corporation.

His political career spanned over five decades, beginning with Congress and later with the TMC.

Mukherjee was considered a political mentor of Mamata Banerjee during her initial years in Chhatra Parishad in Jogamaya College.

Mukherjee, born in 1946 in South 24 Parganas district, and began his political career in the 1960s as a student leader when West Bengal had its first non-Congress government.

CPI (M) leader Ashok Bhattacharya and Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya also condoled the passing away of the veteran politician.