Harkishan Singh Surjeet, the pragmatic Marxist leader, who played a key role in keeping BJP out of power in 1996 and helped Congress form a coalition government at the Centre eight years later, died in New Delhi on Friday after prolonged illness.

Ninety-two-year-old Surjeet, who was convalescing at the Metro Hospital in nearby Noida since July 25, breathed his last at 1:35 pm, said CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat.

The former party General Secretary was earlier admitted to the hospital on May six following a severe cardiac arrest and slipped into coma on May 16.

He fought back and was discharged on June three.

President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh mourned the death of Surjeet.

While the president's office sent a condolence message, the prime minister described the late leader as a "great patriot".

Manmohan Singh, who reached Colombo on Friday to attend the SAARC summit, said the Marxist veteran was a "friend, guide and supporter".

Remembering Surjeet's role in bringing various political parties together to form a coalition, Manmohan Singh said he was the architect of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja said Surjeet's death was a "big loss".

Observing that the departed leader was a "great inspiration", CPI-M leader Nilotpal Basu said: "He played a pivotal role in bringing together different political parties and changing the political scenario."

Added Mohammed Salim, a CPI-M MP from West Bengal: "He developed a young band of communist leaders, who are politically aware, unlike others who promote their daughters, sons and in-laws. He was a very hard working person and did not waste any time. He built the party and the movement and fought against divisive communal forces."