CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, who was undergoing treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi, passed away on Thursday. He was 72.

The CPI-M leader was admitted to AIIMS on August 19 for the treatment of an acute respiratory tract infection and was being treated by a multidisciplinary team of doctors.

Yechury was a member of the Upper House from 2005 to 2017 and had succeeded Prakash Karat as the CPI-M chief in 2015.

The Left leader, who recently underwent cataract surgery, was a member of the CPI-M's Politburo, the top decision-making body, for over three decades.

Condolences have poured in following the leader's demise. Mourning his passing, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said: "Sitaram Yechury ji was a friend. A protector of the idea of India with a deep understanding of our country."

"I will miss the long discussions we used to have. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and followers in this hour of grief," Gandhi said in a post on X.

"ADIEU, COMRADE Sitaram Yechury. The Students' Federation of India dips its banner in honour of our beloved comrade, former All India President of SFI and General Secretary of CPI(M), Sitaram Yechury," the party's student wing said on X.

Congress leader Pawan Khera wrote on X, "A thorough gentleman and a man of unwavering conviction. Travel well #SitaramYechury. Indian politics shall miss you and the values you lived for."

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, in her condolence message, wrote: "Sad to know that Sri Sitaram Yechury has passed away. I knew the veteran parliamentarian that he was, and his demise will be a loss for national politics. I express my condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues."

(With inputs from IANS)