BJP's troubleshooter and stalwart, Arun Jaitley cremated with state honors

66-year-old Jaitley passed away at AIIMS, where he had been admitted on August 9 after he complained of restlessness and breathlessness.

He was kept under the care of a multidisciplinary team of doctors. Jaitley's health had deteriorated since last year after he underwent a kidney transplant.

He also opted out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second term due to his ailing health.

Jaitley's body was taken to his South Delhi residence on Saturday and was shifted to BJP HQ on Sunday, to allow people to pay tributes.

Shah, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, and BJP leader Ram Madhav came to his residence to offer tributes.

British High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith, also paid a visit.

Separately, many Opposition leaders also arrived at Jaitley's residence. Senior Congress leader Motilal Vohra, NCP leaders Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel, and RLD leader Ajit Singh went to give sympathy to Jaitley's family.

Interim Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter to Sangeeta, saying she understood her pain.

Gandhi wrote rich things about Jaitley's spectacular career.

Gandhi said Jaitley fought his cruel illness until the end.

"His passing is all the more tragic because he was so young, when he had so much more to contribute to national life. Words are little consolation at this time of grief, but I wanted you, your son and your daughter to know that I share your pain," the letter of Gandhi read.