Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee The communist who tried to rebrand Bengal dies at 80

    Kolkata, Aug 8 (PTI) Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who will be remembered both for his commitment to the communist ideology and a pragmatic approach to industrialising the state, died at the age of 80 at his residence here on Thursday.
    Bhattacharjee, a stalwart of the CPI(M), was known for his efforts to industrialise the state, an endeavour that, despite his best intentions, eventually led to the downfall of the Left Front government after 34 years of uninterrupted rule. He is survived by wife Meera and their only child Suchetan.
    Despite his failing health in recent years, Bhattacharjee remained a revered figure in Bengal's political landscape, remembered for his integrity and his efforts to balance ideological commitments with the practical needs of governance.
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Bhattacharjee. "He was a political stalwart who served the state with commitment. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," Modi said in a post on X.

    Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said he was saddened to learn about Bhattacharjee's death. "He was unwaveringly dedicated to public service for over five decades. His contributions to the state and nation will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and followers during this difficult time," Gandhi said.
    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who succeeded Bhattacharjee after the 2011 elections, also paid her respects, highlighting the former chief minister's contributions to the state. "He will be remembered for his work," she said, recalling her visits to him during his illness.
    The CPI(M) said a "chapter" in the communist movement of the state has ended. "With his death, a chapter in the communist and Left movement of West Bengal has ended. The politburo pays revolutionary homage to his memory and conveys its deepest condolences to his wife Meera and his son Suchetan," the party said.
    Party general secretary Sitaram Yechury, in a post on Facebook, said the news is "shattering". "His dedication to the party, West Bengal, our shared ideals and also his ability to look ahead will always function as a lodestar," Yechury said.
    Bhattacharya, known for leading a spartan life, died at 8.30 am at his two-room government flat on Palm Avenue, where he resided both during his tenure as chief minister and beyond. Bhattacharjee's death has prompted an outpouring of grief from across the political spectrum.
    Governor C V Ananda Bose lauded him as a leader who earned the respect and love of the people. Former West Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi expressed his condolences, saying the state has lost a remarkable leader and the nation a statesman of rare distinction.
    Leaders of various political parties, including the BJP's state president Sukanta Majumdar, as well as chief ministers of Kerala, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura expressed their condolences.
    Industry captains such as chairman of RPSG Group Sanjiv Goenka, Bharat Chamber of Commerce president N G Khaitan and many others condoled his death. Members of the film fraternity of Bengal expressed shock and grief over the demise of the Marxist patriarch, recalling his close association with the world of arts.
    Born on March 1, 1944, into a scholarly family in North Kolkata, the CPI(M) leader was deeply influenced by the intellectual and cultural milieu of Bengal.
    He joined the CPI(M) in the mid-1960s and quickly rose through the ranks, mentored by party veterans such as Promode Dasgupta. His political career began in earnest in 1977 when he was elected to the West Bengal Assembly from the Cossipore constituency.
    He was appointed as the state's Information and Culture Minister in the first Left Front government. He played a crucial role in establishing 'Nandan' - a film and cultural centre in Kolkata.
    Bhattacharjee briefly stepped away from politics in the early 1990s after resigning from the cabinet due to an altercation with a bureaucrat. However, the CPI(M), facing strong anti-incumbency, brought him back as a fresh face, and in 2000, he succeeded Jyoti Basu as West Bengal's chief minister.
    As chief minister, Bhattacharjee aimed to transform Bengal's economy by shedding the CPI(M)'s anti-industry image and attracting major investments.
    Despite being a politburo member, he pulled no punches in publicly denouncing CITU, the party's trade union wing, for calling strikes and bandhs. His popularity surged and the Left Front scripted a resounding victory in 2006 assembly polls. His efforts for rapid industrialisation earned him the media nickname 'Brand Buddha'.
    His greatest feat was attracting Tata Motors to establish a small car plant Tata Nano at Singur. However, it faced opposition from farmers, a key vote bank of the Left parties, and eventually became one of the key reasons for the downfall of his government.
    The Singur project and police firing on protestors in Nandigram in 2007 further eroded the Left Front's support. The 2011 state elections saw the Left Front's defeat by TMC, ending Bhattacharjee's tenure.
    After the loss, Bhattacharjee gradually retired from active politics, stepping down from the CPI(M) politburo in 2015 and resigning from the state secretariat in 2018. In January 2022, the Centre honoured Bhattacharjee with the Padma Bhushan. However, he declined the award, claiming he had not been notified about it in advance. PTI AMR SUS SCH AO PNT SMY DC BSM PNT ACD

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)