Who Was Buddhadeb Bhattacharya: Last CPM Leader Who Held Bengal's CM Post For 11 Consecutive Years Dies At 80

Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, former Chief Minister of West Bengal, died on Thursday morning at 80. He was the second and the last CPM leader to serve as the chief minister of Bengal. He held the office for 11 consecutive years, from 2000 to 2011.

According to some media reports, he was admitted to a hospital in Kolkata on July 29, 2023, where he received treatment for pneumonia and was also ventilated. He had however recovered and was released from there on August 9.

Who Was Buddhadeb Bhattacharya?

- Born on March 1, 1944, in North Kolkata, and joined CPI(M)in 1966.

- In 1968, he was elected state secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation, the youth wing of the CPI(M) that later merged with the Democratic Youth Federation of India.

- In 1972, Bhattacharjee was elected to the CPI(M) state committee, and in 1982, he was admitted into the state secretariat.

 - In 1982, he lost the assembly elections from Cossipur constituency. Two years later, in 1984, he was made a permanent invitee to the central committee of CPI(M).

- In 1987, he became the MLA of Jadavpur. He represented his constituency till 2011.

- He was also re-inducted as minister of Information and Cultural Affairs in the cabinet in 1987.

- Being a member of cabinet, he held the Information and Cultural Affairs and Urban Development and Municipal Affairs ministry and took responsibility of home and police department.

- He was appointed as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on November 6, 2000, after former CM Jyoti Basu stepped down.

Mamata Banerjee Reacts To Bhuddhadeb Bhattacharya's Demise

West Bengal Chief Minister reacted to his demise and said, "It's sad news. The state government has announced a holiday today. His last rites will take place with state honour. I remember the day when I met him in the presence of Gopalkirshna Gandhi after the Singur movement."