Various politicians including, Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday condoled the demise of state Congress president Somen Mitra.

Mitra died at a city hospital in the early hours of Thursday. He was 78.

Dhankhar said that as constitutional head of the state, he was enormously benefited by Mitra's wise counsel on several occasions.

"Saddened at the death of veteran Congress leader Somen Mitra. As constitutional head was enormously benefited by his wise counsel on several occasions," the governor said in a message.

"Bengal will always recall his sagacious contributions in public life," Dhankhar wrote in the social media message.

The chief minister said she was saddened to hear about the passing away of Mitra.

"Saddened to hear about the passing away of veteran leader, former MP and INC West Bengal president Somen Mitra," Banerjee said in a message.

"My deepest condolences to his family, followers and well-wishers," she wrote in her social media handle.

"All my love and support to family and friends of Somen Mitra at this difficult time. We will remember him with love, fondness and respect," Gandhi said in a tweet.

Mitra passed away around 1.30am following a cardiac arrest, hospital sources said, adding that he had tested negative for Covid-19. He is survived by his wife and son.

A three-time president of the Congress West Bengal unit from 1992-1996, 1996-1998 and then again from September 2018, Mitra was a seven-term MLA from the Sealdah Assembly constituency.