Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday expressed his sadness over the demise of veteran Congress leader Murli Deora.
In a tweet, Singh described Deora as a popular Congress leader who had played an active role in national politics.
Maharashtra Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also expressed his grief over Murli Deora's demise, saying he was a great leader of Maharashtra.
In a tweet, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said he will miss Deora's presence and sense of humour.
The 77-year-old senior Congress leader was suffering from cancer. He breathed his last at 3.25 a.m. this morning in Mumbai.
He is survived by his wife and two sons, including former Member of Parliament Milind Deora.
As per reports, the funeral will be held at Girgaum's Chandanwadi Crematorium at 4 p.m.
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Deora held several important positions during his decades long political career. During the UPA-1 regime, Deora was the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas. The Congress veteran had also served as the Mumbai Congress president for 22 years.
In 2006, he joined the Union Cabinet and led India's oil diplomacy in Myanmar, Algeria and Egypt, and held talks with ministers from Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia and Comoros.
Deora also hosted the first India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference and Exhibition in November 2007.
He became the minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, in July 2011.