Former chief minister of West Bengal and veteran CPIM leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away at 8.20 am Thursday at his residence in Kolkata’s Palm Avenue.
Buddhadeb, who had been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for some years, was 80. He is survived by his wife Mira and daughter Suchetana.
It was in 2000 that he was made the chief minister when Jyoti Basu – the then longest serving chief minister in the country – stepped down due to his health. As CM, he led the Left Front to consecutive victories in the assembly polls in 2001 and 2006.
He was known as a reformist among the Left, especially for trying to bring in industrialisation to the state.
He was behind setting up of a Tata Nano plant in Singur and planning a special economic zone in Nandigram, and it was during his regime that Bengal saw investments in sectors of IT and IT enabled services.
On Wednesday night, Buddhadeb’s breathing problems became severe. It was decided that doctors at Woodlands would examine him by 11 am on Thursday and admit him to the hospital, if necessary. Sources said his condition deteriorated again in the morning, and he breathed his last before he could be hospitalised.
He was last seen outside in 2019 when he went to a CPI(M) rally but could not attend due to a dust allergy and returned home.
During the 2024 polls, his party shared a video of him generated using AI, urging voters to vote for the Left and secular forces in polls.
“A stalwart in public service, his extensive experience of over 5 decades as an MLA, Minister and later as Chief Minister has left an indelible mark. His simplicity, rich contributions to Bengali literature and commitment to community service were noteworthy,” Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote in a post on X.
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu wrote, “His vast tenure of over five decades as an MLA, Minister, and eventually as Chief Minister has left a lasting legacy. Renowned for his humility, significant contributions to Bengali literature, and unwavering dedication to public service, he will be deeply missed.”
Source: The Indian Express
BDST: 1312 HRS, AUG 08, 2024
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