Mamata Banerjee condoles passing away of former West Bengal Finance Minister Ashok Mitra

"Saddened at the passing away of noted economist,former Finance Minister of Bengal and former Rajya Sabha MP, Dr Ashok Mitra. He had a long career with the World Bank, IIM Calcutta and as Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India. Condolences to his family & well wishers," Banerjee tweeted as she mourned the death of the Communist leader.

Veteran Marxian economist, senior leader of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the first Finance Minister during the Left regime in West Bengal, Ashok Mitra, passed away in Kolkata on Tuesday morning, reports said.

According to reports, Mitra died at a privately-run hospital in south Kolkata at around 9:15 am.

Ashok Mitra was suffering from different kinds of illnesses due to advanced age and he was undergoing treatment in the hospital since last few weeks.

He was 90.

Ashok Mitra served as the Chief Economic Adviser of the Government of India from 1970 to 1972.

In 1977, Mitra became the first Finance Minister of the Left Front government that ruled West Bengal for over three decades.

After serving as the state Finance Minister for 10 long years, he resigned from his post in 1987 due to a dissidence with the then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu over few issues.

Later in 1990, Ashok Mitra became a Member of Rajya Sabha and he was the Chairman of Parliament's Standing Committee on Industry and Commerce.

The veteran Left leader will be remembered for his unique quote – "I am not a gentleman, I am a communist."

Left Front Chairman Biman Bose, West Bengal CPI-M General Secretary Surya Kanta Mishra and other political leaders of the state expressed deep condolences over the death of the senior communist leader.

However, his body will be cremated at Keoratala crematorium this evening.