New Delhi - Manohar Singh Gill, the former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India and a prominent Congress leader, passed away at the age of 86 on Sunday after a brief illness in a private hospital. His final rites are scheduled to take place in New Delhi on Monday.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his condolences for Gill's demise, stating, "I am deeply saddened by the loss of Former Union Minister, Padma Vibhushan recipient, Shri Manohar Singh Gill Ji. He was a cherished colleague during his tenure in the UPA Government and earlier in his civil service career. His enduring contributions to the nation's progress, spanning diverse domains such as sports, electoral procedures, and agriculture, will be remembered."

He further added, "Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his family, friends, and followers. My prayers are for his eternal peace."

Manohar Singh Gill, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Punjab cadre, served as the Chief Election Commissioner from December 1996 to June 2001. Subsequently, he entered the Rajya Sabha as a member of the Congress party and assumed the role of Union Sports Minister in 2008. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.