Bengaluru: Several national leaders including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy DK Shivakumar among others paid homage to veteran leader Oommen Chandy on Tuesday at former minister T John’s residence in Bengaluru. 

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Kharge had arrived here on Monday to attend the meeting of leaders of Opposition parties on Tuesday. Kharge termed Chandy's demise a 'great loss' to the country, Kerala and the Congress party.

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Rahul Gandhi said, "Oommen Chandy represented the spirit of Kerala and India. He was the true leader of the people of Kerala. We will miss him. We loved him very much and we remember him fondly. My condolences to his family and everybody who loved him."

Oommen Chandy, who served as the chief minister of Kerala twice, breathed his last at Chinmaya Mission Hospital in Bengaluru at 4.25 am on Tuesday. He was 79. He had been undergoing treatment for cancer for a long time.

The mortal remains of the leader will be airlifted to Thiruvananthapuram by Tuesday noon. The funeral will be held at 2.30 pm on Thursday at Puthuppally Church, Kottayam.

With PTI inputs