August 8, 2024 11:31 AM.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya passed away in Kolkata at the age of 80 today. He was suffering from various ailments. He is survived by his wife Meera and daughter Suchetana.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011 and his regime was marked by a push for industrialisation and protest against forcible land acquisition.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary Mohammad Salim said the former Chief Minister passed away at 8.20 a.m. on Thursday
“Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away today morning. He suddenly fell ill today. Doctors came, but couldn’t do much. The body will be preserved today. Final rites will be performed tomorrow [August 9]. He had donated his body, so accordingly, it will be handed over to a medical college,” the CPI(M) State secretary.
Thousands of CPI(M) supporters and common people came out on the streets of the city and assembled outside his Palm Avenue residence and followed the body of former Chief Minister to a city mortuary Peace World. The body will be taken to West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Friday and later at the CPI(M) State headquarters at Alimuddin Street. From the party office the body will be taken to Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, where it will be donated to the hospital.
Mr. Bhattacharjee became Chief Minister of the State in 2000, after legendary Jyoti Basu stepped aside because of failing health. After that he led CPI(M) led Left Front to power for two terms in 2001 and 2006. He was Chief Minister till 2011 when Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress came to power after 34 years of the rule of the Left Front government.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolences on the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister and reached his residence.