New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI) The Communist Party of India (CPI) said today that the passing away of former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was not just a loss for the Left movement, but a big loss for parliamentary democracy in the country.

CPI national secretary D Raja described Chatterjee as one of the best parliamentarians and an outstanding leader of the Left movement who was the first Communist to become the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

"He remained a secular person to the core and upheld constitutional morality and parliamentary practices, not only for the Left, but parliamentary democracy at large.

"It is not only a loss for the Left movement, it is a big loss for parliamentary democracy in the country," he said.

Chatterjee passed away at a private hospital in Kolkata this morning, following multiple organ failure. He was 89. The 10-time Lok Sabha member is survived by his wife Renu, a son and two daughters.

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