The former chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit has died aged 81, following a long illness.

The veteran politician was the longest-serving chief minister of the Indian capital, serving for three terms from 1998 to 2013.

Dikshit also served as the governor of the southern state of Kerala and as president of the main opposition Congress Party in Delhi.

Ms Dikshit passed away on Saturday afternoon at a hospital in the capital.

Earlier this year she was named as a Congress candidate in the general election. But she was unsuccessful in her race to win the North East Delhi seat in the lower house of parliament, known as the Lok Sabha.

"It is very disappointing, we should have won," she said at the time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was re-elected after his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cruised to a landslide victory in the poll.

The Indian leader paid tribute to Ms Dikshit after news broke of her death.

"Blessed with a warm and affable personality, she made a noteworthy contribution to Delhi's development," Mr Modi said in a tweet. "Condolences to her family and supporters."

India's President Ram Nath Kovind also shared his condolences.

BBC

BDST: 2024 HRS, JUL 20, 2019
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