Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, a former chief minister of West Bengal, passes away At eighty

Kolkata At the age of 80, veteran Left leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away this morning at his home in south Kolkata. His respiratory issues had been the cause of his numerous hospital stays. He had pneumonia last year and was placed on life support, but he made a full recovery. His son Suchetan and wife Meera survive him.

Between 2000 to 2011, Mr. Bhattacharjee, a former member of the CPM's Politburo, led West Bengal as chief minister, taking over from Jyoti Basu. He led the CPM into the 2011 state elections, where the Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, won a historic victory to terminate the state's 34 years of Communist administration.

Mr. Bhattacharjee, who was well-known for leading a modest life, died in his two-bedroom Palm Avenue flat, where he had previously served as state governor. His organs will be donated for medical research in accordance with his wishes. His remains will remain at the CPM headquarters so that supporters can pay their respects; tomorrow is the last trip.

Before deciding to devote all of his time to politics, Mr. Bhattacharjee, a graduate of Kolkata's Presidency College, taught in schools. Prior to becoming Deputy Chief Minister and ultimately assuming the position in 2000, he was an MLA and a state minister. Compared to the previous Jyoti Basu government, the Left Front government had a more liberal stance towards business during his tenure. Nonetheless, the Left's loss in the 2011 elections was largely due to this change in strategy and the disputes surrounding the purchase of land for industrialisation.

Opposition to the Tata Motors plant in Singur was spearheaded by the Trinamool Congress, which had garnered a mere thirty seats in the 2006 elections. Tata Motors ultimately moved the project to Gujarat in 2008 as a result of this effort, citing Ms. Banerjee's opposition as the cause. Mr. Bhattacharjee's government was further harmed by the unrest in Nandigram, when police action against a mob protesting land acquisition for a chemical hub project resulted in 14 deaths.

By taking advantage of the anti-incumbency mood and the unfavourable impression of the state government's land acquisition policy, Ms. Banerjee's Trinamool Congress managed to secure 184 seats in the 2011 election. After losing, the Left started a downward spiral from which it has never fully recovered, and in the ensuing ten years, the BJP surpassed it as the primary opposition party.

The family of Mr. Bhattacharjee received condolences from Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose. In her sympathy letter, Chief Minister Banerjee mentioned her longstanding relationship with the seasoned Left leader. "I'm furious right now. My sympathies go out to Suchetan, Meera di, and all CPM backers. During his final journey and ceremonies, we will treat him with the utmost dignity and respect," she declared.

Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the BJP, expressed his sadness over Mr. Bhattacharjee's loss and offered his condolences to the admirers and family. CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, a long-time friend, called the news "shattering" and praised Mr. Bhattacharjee's commitment to the party and West Bengal. "His dedication to the party, West Bengal, our shared ideals, and his foresight will always serve as a lodestar," he stated.