Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee's mother Gayatri Banerjee, who was a pillar of strength for West Bengal's first woman chief minister, passed away here Saturday morning at the age of 81 after an illness, Trinamool Congress leaders said.
Gayatri Banerjee was suffering from age related illness for the last few years. Better known as Gayatri Devi, she was admitted to the hospital Nov 25 with kidney-related ailments and was on ventilator support for the last few days.
She passed away at 8.35 a.m., Trinamool leaders said.
"It is true that Mamata Banerjee's mother has passed away today in the morning," said Trinamool Congress leader and union Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy.
Many party leaders and state ministers have assembled at the SSKM Hospital since morning.
Mamata Banerjee Friday rushed back from New Delhi after the condition of her mother worsened. According to party sources, the chief minister was very close to her mother who had provided her all possible support during her days of struggle in the opposition.
A few days back Banerjee had said she was missing her mother's smiling face.
"I am missing my mother's smiling face at home as she is in hospital. I always make it a point to look at her face before leaving home because it helps me get my work done," said Banerjee in an interview to a Bengali TV channel.
Banerjee also lamented that she was unable to visit her mother at SSKM Hospital for several days.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday condoled the death of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's mother Gayatri Banerjee, saying he was deeply sorry and empathises on her loss.
"I was deeply sorry to hear of the passing away of your mother this (Saturday) morning," Singh said in a message to Banerjee sent from Moscow where he is on a three-day official visit.
"I know how close she was to you and I can feel your pain and sorrow and sense of loss at this sad happening," he said.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Please accept my most sincere condolences," Manmohan Singh said in his message.
