Sheila Dikshit had served as Delhi's chief minister for three consecutive terms between 1998 and 2013.

Highlights Rahul Gandhi said he was devastated to hear the news

He called Sheila Dikshit a beloved daughter of the Congress Party

Veteran Congress leader Sheila Dikshit died of cardiac arrest today

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said he was "devastated" to hear the news of three-time Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit's death. Veteran Congress leader, who was the longest serving chief minister of Delhi, has died of cardiac arrest. She was 81. Sheila Dikshit was admitted to Escorts hospital this morning. She died at 3.55 pm.

"I'm devastated to hear about the passing away of Sheila Dikshit Ji, a beloved daughter of the Congress Party, with whom I shared a close personal bond. My condolences to her family & the citizens of Delhi, whom she served selflessly as a 3 term CM, in this time of great grief," he tweeted.

I'm devastated to hear about the passing away of Sheila Dikshit Ji, a beloved daughter of the Congress Party, with whom I shared a close personal bond.



My condolences to her family & the citizens of Delhi, whom she served selflessly as a 3 term CM, in this time of great grief. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 20, 2019

The official twitter handle of the Congress posted: "We regret to hear of the passing (away) of Smt Sheila Dikshit. Lifelong congresswoman and as three time CM of Delhi she transformed the face of Delhi. Our condolences to her family and friends. Hope they find strength in this time of grief."

Sheila Dikshit was serving as the Delhi Congress chief, a charge she took over in January this year, ahead of the national elections. She had contested the Lok Sabha elections from North East Delhi constituency, but lost to the BJP's Manoj Tiwari.

Sheila Dikshit became a lawmaker for the first time from the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh in 1984. She was a close associate of former PM Rajiv Gandhi and a minister in his cabinet.

The hospital, in a statement, said despite all resuscitative efforts, Sheila Dikshit died after a cardiac arrest.

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

Sheila Dikshit's son Sandeep Dikshit is also a Congress leader who was a parliamentarian from Delhi. She lived in Delhi's Nizamuddin area.