"I had the benefit of his wise statesmanship counsel": VP Dhankhar condoles death of former West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee

New Delhi [India], August 8 : Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed grief over the passing away of former West Bengal Chief Minister and CPI (M) veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Thursday and said that he had the benefit of receiving his wise statesmanship counsel.
Taking to his social media handle on microblogging site X, Vice President Dhankhar said, "Grieved to learn about the sad demise of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former Chief Minister, West Bengal. Many a time as Governor of West Bengal, I had the benefit of his wise statesmanship counsel."
Bhattacharjee served as the 7th Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011 and was a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was the second and last CPI (M) leader who served as the CM of West Bengal, succeeding Jyoti Basu. In 2011 assembly polls, Bhattacharjee-led CPI (M) lost to Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, which ended a 34-year communist rule in West Bengal.
Vice President Dhankhar also offered his condolences to the bereaved family members and relatives of the veteran.
"My heartfelt condolences to all the family members and relatives. I pray the Almighty bestows eternal peace on the departed noble soul and gives fortitude to the bereaved family to bear this huge loss," read the post.
Former Chief Minister of West Bengal and CPI (M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away at the age of eighty on Thursday morning in Kolkata after suffering from old age-related ailments.
West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee, in her condolence message on X, said, "Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. I have known him for the 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."
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Leader of Opposition, BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also expressed grief over the death of the former WB Chief Minister.
CPI (M) West Bengal State Secretary Md Salim said, "It's very sad news for us and the state and all those people of the country who think about the labourers and common people."As a good administrator, honest person, aggressive secular, and such a leader, losing him is a loss for all of us." Md Salim further added.
CPI(M) also expressed its profound grief at the passing away of Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. He joined the Party in 1966 in his student days. He participated in various struggles of the student and youth movements. He became the state secretary of the West Bengal Democratic Youth Federation in 1968. He was elected to the West Bengal state committee of the Party in 1971 and became a state secretariat member in 1982.
In this period, Buddhadeb emerged as an important Party leader who undertook various responsibilities as a dedicated cadre. Buddhadeb became a member of the Central Committee of the Party at the 12th Congress of the Party in 1985. He was elected to the Polit Bureau in 2000. As a member of the Polit Bureau till 2015, he made important contributions in shaping Party policies.
Buddhadeb's distinctive role was as a minister and Chief Minister of the Left Front government, in which he served nearly three decades. He succeeded Jyoti Basu as the Chief Minister in November 2000 and was sworn in after that for another two terms. He thus played a key role in the approach and policies of the Left Front government.
Buddhadeb made a significant contribution to the development of cultural institutions and sustaining progressive cultural values. His passion was literature. He was a poet, playwright and writer. He translated many international literary works into Bengali. He wrote extensively on changes in China and published a book on the subject.
Buddhadeb, as a dedicated Communist, led a simple life and throughout his tenure as Chief Minister and subsequently, lived in a modest two-room apartment.