Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Oscar Fernandes, an MP, died at a private hospital in Mangalore on Monday afternoon, family sources said. He was 80.

Fernandes is survived by his wife and two children.

Fernandes was hospitalised in July after suffering a fall at his house while doing his regular exercise. As he was found to have an internal injury, a surgery was carried out by doctors.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said it is a huge loss for each and every party worker and the country.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet: “It is a personal loss for me. He was a guide and mentor to many of us in the Congress party.”

Fernandes represented Udupi constituency in the Lok Sabha five times and was elected to the Rajya Sabha four times. He had served as Union minister for labour and employment from 2006 to 2009 and had held different portfolios in the UPA-II government led by Manmohan Singh. He also served as parliament secretary to Rajiv Gandhi.

Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and former chief ministers B.S. Yediyurappa and Siddaramaiah expressed grief over the passing away of Fernandes. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Fernandes was one of the national leaders who always maintained close ties with the southern state.

The mortal remains of Fernandes would be kept at the district Congress committee offices at Udupi and Mangalore on Tuesday for the public to pay homage. The remains would be later shifted to the KPCC office in Bangalore for public homage. Sources said the final rites would be conducted at St Patrick Church, Bangalore.