News Desk, 08th August: Former West Bengal Chief Minister and senior CPI(M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharya passed away at the age of 80. Bhattacharya breathed his last at his Palm Avenue home at 8:20 am on Thursday, casting a pall of mourning over the political landscape.
Bhattacharya had been grappling with health issues for several years, notably suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Despite being hospitalized multiple times, his strong morale saw him return home after recovering. However, in recent days, his condition worsened, with severe breathing difficulties ultimately leading to his demise this morning, even with oxygen support.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharya served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011, holding the position for 11 consecutive years. His death has elicited an outpouring of grief from leaders across the political spectrum. State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with other political figures, has expressed deep condolences on his passing.