People pay homage to former West Bengal CM Siddhartha Shankar Ray

Kolkata, Nov.7 (ANI): Scores of people paid homage to Siddhartha Shankar Ray, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, who passed away at his residence here on Saturday (Nov.6).

The 90-year-old was suffering from kidney ailments and had getting regular dialysis for some time.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, also paid his last respects to the former Chief Minister of West Bengal here today.

"It is a very sad event for me also, apart from people of Bengal. ManuDa was a very popular name, not only in politics but in sports, law, and he was liked by all and he had no enemy," said Chatterjee.

Ray will be cremated in the evening today with State honours.

West Bengal Government has declared Monday a holiday as a mark of respect for Ray.

Ray was Central Education Minister from 1967 to 1972. He served as the state's Chief Minister from 1972 to 1977.

Later, Ray went on to become the Governor of Punjab and Indian Ambassador to the US between 1992 and 1996. (ANI)