Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Former W.B Chief Minister, Passes Away

Former chief minister of West Bengal and veteran CPIM leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away on August 8, at his residence in Kolkata’s Palm Avenue. Buddhadeb, who had been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for some years, was 80. He is survived by his wife Mira and daughter Suchetana.

Who was Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee

An alumnus of Presidency College, Kolkata, Mr Bhattacharjee was a school teacher before he joined politics full-time. After serving as an MLA and a state minister, he was elevated to Deputy Chief Minister before Mr Basu stepped down in 2000. As Chief Minister, he led the CPM to Assembly poll victories in 2001 and 2006.

Known for his simple lifestyle

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was known for his simple lifestyle, Mr Bhattacharjee breathed his last at the two-bedroom flat at Palm Avenue from where he once ran the state. His organs will be donated for medical research as per his wishes. His body will be kept in the CPM headquarters for his followers to pay respects and the last journey will take place tomorrow.

His tenure of C.M

It was in 2000 that he was made the chief minister when Jyoti Basu, the then longest serving chief minister in the country stepped down due to his health. As CM, he led the Left Front to consecutive victories in the assembly polls in 2001 and 2006.

Open policy towards business

During Mr Bhattacharjee’s tenure, the Left Front government adopted a relatively open policy towards business as compared to the Jyoti Basu regime. Ironically, it was this policy and land acquisitions related to industrialisation that paved the way for the Left’s stunning defeat in the 2011 election.

Reformist among the Left

He was known as a reformist among the Left, especially for trying to bring in industrialisation to the state. He was behind setting up of a Tata Nano plant in Singur and planning a special economic zone in Nandigram, and it was during his regime that Bengal saw investments in sectors of IT and IT enabled services.