Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, whose bold attempts at economic reforms in the decades-long rule of the communists in the state saw the Left Front’s ouster over farmers’ protests, died on August 8, at the age of 80. With his death, one of the last Marxist icons of India is gone.
Bhattacharjee passed away at his South Kolkata residence at 8.20am, party sources confirmed. He is survived by his wife Meera Bhattacharjee and son Suchetan.
“Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s mortal remains will be preserved on Thursday and will be kept at Alimuddin Street (party headquarters) from 10.30am on Friday for common people to pay their last respect. His last journey will begin from Alimuddin at 4pm,” said Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary Md Salim.
The former chief minister, who was suffering from pancreas related health issues, was admitted to hospital in July 2023 with lower respiratory tract infection and Type II respiratory failure.
The CPI-M stalwart was the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011.
Political journey of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Bhattacharjee was compared to China’s Deng Xiaoping, the paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) who rose to supreme power after Mao Zedong’s death in 1976 and began integrating the Chinese economy with the Western economy with far-reaching market-economy reforms.
The CPI-M veteran, whose uncle (father’s cousin) was revolutionary Bengali poet Sukanta Bhattacharya, was born in 1944 in a family in north Kolkata.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was known for his unconventional stance towards the policies and the economy in contrast to the Left Front’s ideas.
During his tenure, Bhattacharjee was proactive in attracting investments, besides maintaining the agricultural base of West Bengal, which lacked industries in decades of Left rule marred by militant trade unionism.
However, his bid to attract investments was met with stiff resistance from local people and then opposition parties after Tata went to build a car factory in Singur.
Singur witnessed massive protests, which were led by then opposition leader and present West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party Trinamool Congress.
Besides Singur, Bhattacharjee’s aim to build a chemical hub in Nandigram also faced hurdles in 2007. After police firing killed 14 protesters, the CPI-M government came under sharp criticism from all corners.
The under-fire Bhattacharjee government eventually collapsed in the 2011 assembly elections, with the 34-year Left rule replaced by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, an offshoot of the Indian National Congress.
Mamata Banerjee offers condolences
Mourning his demise, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted on X: “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.
“My very sincere condolences to Meeradi and Suchetan at this hour of grief. 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.”
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari posted on X: “I am deeply saddened to learn that former West Bengal Chief Minister; Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has left for his heavenly abode. Condolences to his family members and admirers. I pray that his soul finds eternal peace. Om Shanti.”
