<span style="color: #222222;">The mortal remains of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit were consigned to flames today afternoon. The 81-year-old Congress veteran, who died due to cardiac arrest yesterday, was cremated with full state honours at the Nigambodh Ghat. <br />'' <br />'' Top Congress leaders, including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were present at the funeral. Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain were among those who attended the last rites.<br />'' <br />'' Earlier, paying homage to Dikshit, Sonia Gandhi said the three-time Chief Minister of Delhi was a friend and like an elder sister to her. She said her demise was a big loss to the Congress party. AIR correspondent reports Congress party workers and admirers braved heavy rains to bid her final farewell.  <br />'' <br />'' Veteran BJP L K Advani and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Shiela Dikshit's residence and paid tributes to her. Yesterday, several leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid their respects. Dikshit's body was taken to the Congress headquarters where top party leaders, including Manmohan Singh, Chief Ministers Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath, paid their respects. Later, the body was taken to the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee office, the city unit which she was heading at the time of her death. As the longest serving woman chief minister who steered her party to victory for three consecutive terms in 1998, 2003 and 2008, Dikshit ushered in an era of all-round development that transformed Delhi into a world class capital. She also initiated green reforms in public transport sector successfully accomplishing the shift from polluting vehicles to a CNG based fleet.</span><br />''  <br />