Kolkata/IBNS: CPI(M) leader and former West Bengal minister Manab Mukherjee died of cardiac arrest on Tuesday afternoon. He was 67.

According to a party statement, Mukherjee suffered a heart attack at 11:10 am today. He breathed his last while being rushed to a hospital.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed deep sorrow on the passing away of the communist leader.

“I am deeply saddened by the demise of former West Bengal minister Manab  Mukherjee. His death is a huge loss for Indian politics. I convey my sincere condolences to Manab Mukherjee's family and his followers,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.

Mukherjee held the Tourism and Information & Cultural Affairs portfolios in the erstwhile Buddhadeb Bhattacharya-led Left Front government.

The CPI(M) leader’s body will be kept at Peace World after the donation of his eyes today, the party said in a statement.

On Wednesday, November 30, at 10: 00 am, his body will be taken to the party’s Beleghata East Zone Office and kept there from 11 am to 11:30 am.

At 12:30 pm the body will be taken to Calcutta Medical College amid a procession and handed over to the hospital administration, the party said.