Former union minister Sushma Swaraj described Sheila Dikshit as a "fine human being"

Highlights Sushma Swaraj visited Sheila Dikshit's residence to pay respects

"She was a fine human being," Ms Swaraj wrote on Twitter on Saturday

Sheila Dikshit's last rites were performed on Sunday

Former union minister Sushma Swaraj visited the residence of Sheila Dikshit today morning to pay her respects, after the veteran Congress leader died of a cardiac arrest at a city hospital yesterday evening. She was 81 years old.

Ms Dikshit's body was cremated today evening at Nigam Bodh Ghat, on the banks of the Yamuna. The Delhi government has declared a two-day period of state mourning.

Ms Swaraj had posted a message of condolence on social media yesterday as news of Ms Dikshit's death became public, writing that they were "opponents in politics but friends in personal life".

"I am sorry to know about the sudden demise of Sheila Dixit ji. We were opponents in politics but friends in personal life. She was a fine human being. #SheilaDixit," Ms Swaraj wrote.

I am sorry to know about the sudden demise of Sheila Dixit ji. We were opponents in politics but friends in personal life. She was a fine human being. #SheilaDixit — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 20, 2019

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra yesterday mourned more than the loss of a party leader." I'll miss her wise counsel, her sweet smile and the warmth with which she would hug me whenever we met," Priyanka Gandhi wrote.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi wrote a heartfelt letter to Ms Dikshit's children praising her "tremendous achievements".

"Deeply saddened by the demise of Sheila Dikshit-Ji. Blessed with a warm and affable personality, she made a noteworthy contribution to Delhi's development. Condolences to her family and supporters. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted with a picture of him and Ms Dikshit.

President Ram Nath Kovind and various politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, current Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Home Minister Amit Shah were also among those who expressed their condolences.

Sheila Dikshit was admitted to Fortis Escorts Hospital in Delhi early yesterday morning in critical condition. The hospital, in a statement, said despite efforts to revive, Sheila Dikshit died after a cardiac arrest at 3.55 pm.

Ms Dikshit had served as Delhi's chief minister for three consecutive terms between 1998 and 2013. She was succeeded by Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal. After her stint as Delhi chief minister, she was sworn in as Kerala's Governor in 2014, but resigned in just six months.

Born in Punjab's Kapurthala, Sheila Dikshit was credited with numerous people-friendly programmes.