New Delhi [India], June 9 (NT): Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday offered his condolences on the death of former union minister and party veteran Laliteshwar Prasad Shahi.

Taking to his official Twitter handle the congress scion Rahul said, "The loss of Shri L P Shahi, freedom fighter, former Union Minister & CWC Member will be felt by all of us in the Congress Party. My thoughts and prayers are with his family in their time of grief. May his soul rest in peace," he tweeted.

Earlier in the day, the 98-year-old Shahi died at Delhi's All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after a prolonged disease.

It is noted that in 1980, Shahi was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly after winning over Jai Narain Prasad Nishad of the Janata Party. In 1984, he had become Member of Parliament from Muzaffarpur. He also served as the education and culture minister.

The Congress President also condoled the death of former Goa party chief, Shantaram Naik on microblogging website and tweeted, "I'm sorry to hear about the passing away of Shri Shantaram Naik, former Goa Congress Chief, MP and senior Congress leader, who played an important role in the battle for Goa's statehood. My condolences to his family in their time of grief. May his soul rest in peace”.

The 72-year-old passed away after suffering a heart attack earlier in the day at a hospital in Margao, Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress President Pratima Coutinho told ANI.