Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, former Chief Minister of West Bengal passed away at 8:20 am on Thursday at his residence on Palm Avenue in Kolkata. He was 80 years old and had been battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for several years. He is survived by his wife Mira and daughter Suchetana.
Bhattacharya became the Chief Minister in 2000, succeeding Jyoti Basu, the then longest-serving Chief Minister in India, who stepped down due to health reasons. As Chief Minister, Bhattacharya led the Left Front to consecutive victories in the 2001 and 2006 assembly elections.
Known as a reformist within the Left, Bhattacharya championed industrialization in the state. He was instrumental in setting up the Tata Nano plant in Singur and planning a special economic zone in Nandigram. Under his leadership, Bengal saw significant investments in the IT and IT-enabled services sectors.
On Wednesday night, Bhattacharya’s breathing problems worsened. Doctors from Woodlands were scheduled to examine him at 11 am on Thursday and potentially admit him to the hospital. However, his condition deteriorated further in the morning, and he passed away before hospitalization could occur.
Bhattacharya was last seen publicly in 2019 at a rally, which he had to leave due to a dust allergy. During the 2024 elections, his party used an AI-generated video of him urging voters to support the Left and secular forces.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharya’s passing marks the end of an era in West Bengal politics. His contributions to the state, particularly in the areas of industrialization and IT, will be remembered as significant milestones in Bengal’s development.
