Former Chief Minister of West Bengal and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away at his Kolkata home on Thursday morning after a prolonged illness. The 80-year-old politician is survived by his wife Mira and daughter Suchetana.
Bhattacharjee served as the Chief Minister of Bengal from 2000 to 2011, following Jyoti Basu. He led the CPI(M) during the 2011 state elections when Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress achieved a landmark victory, ending the 34-year Communist rule in the state.
A graduate from Presidency College in Kolkata, Bhattacharjee was a school teacher before he joined politics. He served as an MLA and a state minister before being promoted to Deputy Chief Minister prior to Jyoti Basu’s resignation in 2000. As Chief Minister, he led the CPM to victories in the Assembly elections of 2001 and 2006.
In 2015, Bhattacharjee resigned from the CPI(M) politburo and central committee, and in 2018, he gave up his membership in the party’s state secretariat. Post his resignation, Bhattacharjee avoided public engagements and lived in his simple two-room government apartment on Palm Avenue in south Kolkata, from where he passed away.
To honour the late leader’s wishes, Bhattacharjee’s organs will be donated for medical research. His body will be kept at the CPM headquarters for his followers to pay him a visit one last time, and the final journey will take place tomorrow.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolences by saying, “Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. I have been knowing him for last several decades and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years. My very sincere condolences to Meeradi and Suchetan at this hour of grief. I communicate my condolences to the members of the CPI(M) party and all his followers. We have already taken a decision that we shall give him full respect and ceremonial honour during his last journey and rites.”
Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. I have been knowing him for last several decades, and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years.
My very sincere condolences…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 8, 2024
West Bengal has declared a state mourning on Thursday, August 8, 2024, and has declared a public holiday.
