Kolkata, Nov 12 (PTI) West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday expressed grief over the passing away of Union minister Ananth Kumar.

"Saddened at the passing away of Ananth Kumar ji, six time MP and Union Cabinet minister. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and supporters," Banerjee wrote in her Twitter handle this morning.

Describing him as a "brilliant organiser" and an "able administrator", who handled many ministerial portfolios, Tripathi said his tragic demise is a great loss to the country.

The Governor also conveyed his heart-felt condolences to Ananth's bereaved family and his numerous followers.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar died at a private hospital in Bengaluru in the early hours of Monday after battling lung cancer for several months, hospital authorities said.

Kumar, 59, had come back to Bengaluru only recently after undergoing treatment in the US and Britain.

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