Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today condoled the death Somnath Chatterjee, saying that his tenure as the speaker of the Lower House was a guide for her.
Recalling her long association with Chatterjee, Mahajan said he was from a different ideology, but was always kind to her. "I am observing Somnath da from the very first day I entered Parliament and I have learnt a lot from him. He was a big brother to me," Mahajan told reporters.
She further said Chatterjee's tenure as the Lok Sabha speaker was a guide for her and he established that the speaker's post was above politics by refusing to step down from his position.
Mahajan was referring to an episode of July 2008, when the CPI(M) withdrew support from the then Congress-led UPA government and the Left party had asked the Chatterjee to step down from his position.
The speaker said she was in touch with Chatterjee and met him several times. Mahajan is going to Kolkata today to pay tributes to him.
Chatterjee passed away at a private hospital in Kolkata this morning, following multiple organ failure. He was 89 and survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.
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