Ex-Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s condition critical, placed on ventilator

The condition of former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who was admitted to hospital on Monday after complaining of breathing difficulties, has become critical, due to a high accumulation of carbon-dioxide.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the ailing Marxist leader this evening and said, “We are worried. He is very critical and we are trying hard to make him survive.”

The chief minister said her government would see that Buddhadeb gets all the treatments required.

Doctor Suryakanta Mishra, former member of Buddhadeb’s cabinet, has said, “The oxygen level has increased in a big way. So that is a major cause of concern. We have asked hospital to do everything possible to save Buddha-da.”

Mishra along with Biman Bose and other top CPIM leaders went to see the ailing former chief minister who remained unconscious even after being admitted in the hospital.

Rupali Basu, CEO of the hospital, said, “When he came his carbon di-oxide level in the blood was 70 (mEq/L). Now it has reached to 131. So from Bipap he has been transferred to full ventilation. He is critical then and still now.”

CPI(M) Politburo member Biman Bose, said that party would stand by the ailing leader. “We would do whatever to save him. Buddha is not at all well and we all saw him from outside and did not go close to him,” said Bose.

Buddhadeb was former chief minister of the West Bengal and one of the longest serving ministers in any Indian state (since 1977) with only one break in 1982 when he lost the election. In 2011, his government fell after intense movement against land acquisition by the Mamata Banerjee. He himself was defeated from the Jadavpur constituency.

West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has visited the ailing leader two times in last one year, said he is worried to hear this. “I want his speedy recovery. I am in touch with the hospital and getting all the inputs,” said Dhankhar.