Former West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Dies At 80

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the former West Bengal chief minister and veteran communist leader, died on Thursday at his home in Kolkata. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who served as Bengal Chief Minister from 2000 to 2011, was suffering from old age-related ailments. 

The veteran leader led the CPM into the 2011 state polls, when the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress posted a significant win, ending the 34-year Communist rule in West Bengal. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was also a former member of the Politburo, CPM's top decision-making body. An NDTV report indicates that Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was a school teacher before he joined politics full-time. As Chief Minister, he led the party to Assembly poll victories in 2001 and 2006. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. "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," wrote Mamata Banerjee in a post on X. "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," West Bengal CM added in the post.