Veteran Marxist leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet dies

Harkishan Singh Surjeet, the pragmatic Marxist leader, who played a key role in keeping BJP out of power in 1996 and helped Congress form a coalition government at the Centre eight years later, died in New Delhi on Friday after prolonged illness.

92-year-old Surjeet, who was convalescing at the Metro Hospital in nearby Noida since July 25, breathed his last breath at 1335 hours, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told PTI.

The former party general secretary was earlier admitted to the hospital on May six following a severe cardiac arrest and slipped into coma on May 16. He fought back and was discharged on June three.