Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Passes Away at 80

Desk Report, August 08, 2024: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the veteran leader and former Chief Minister of West Bengal, has passed away. He was 80 years old. Bhattacharjee died this morning at his south Kolkata residence following a prolonged illness.

Bhattacharjee’s health had deteriorated over the past year. In July 2023, he was hospitalized for multiple ailments, including pneumonia. Despite being placed on a ventilator, he showed improvement and was discharged on August 9.

Bhattacharjee was the second and last Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM] Chief Minister of West Bengal. Serving from 2000 to 2011, he succeeded Jyoti Basu. His tenure marked the final years of the Left Front’s 34-year rule in Bengal. Bhattacharjee’s administration faced a significant setback in 2011 when Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) won the assembly elections, ending the Left Front’s long dominance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences via social media, stating, “Saddened by the passing of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former CM of West Bengal. He was a political stalwart who served the state with commitment. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.”

Bhattacharjee is survived by his wife, Meera, and son, Suchetan.

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