Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, a prominent leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and former Chief Minister of West Bengal, passed away at the age of 80 in Kolkata on Thursday. Bhattacharjee, who resided in a modest two-room government apartment in Ballygunge, South Kolkata, suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and had been largely homebound in recent years.
Despite his health challenges, he continued to be a significant figure in West Bengal politics. Bhattacharjee served as the state’s Chief Minister from May 2001 to 2011, succeeding Jyoti Basu. Under his leadership, the CPI(M)-led Left Front ruled West Bengal continuously from 1977 until their defeat in the 2011 assembly elections.
