KOLKATA: Several party members, political leaders, hundreds of schoolchildren and other well-wishers thronged Indira Bhavan in Salt Lake, the residence of former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, to wish the CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu turned 96 on Wednesday.
A visibly weak Basu appeared briefly at the entrance of his house, flanked by former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty, both of whom are considered close to him.
Basu is the longest serving chief minister of India. He was the Chief Minister of the state from 1977 till he retired in late 2000 due to ill-health.
The CPM leader told those gathered that Marxists usually do not celebrate birthdays, but he was happy as so many people had come to wish him. “I am bedridden and ill, but I have come here to speak to you. I want West Bengal’s development,” he said.
West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi visited Basu at his residence on Tuesday to wish him. Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee called Basu from New Delhi to wish him. Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee also greeted Basu.
Somnath Chatterjee said, “I am fortunate to have worked under him. This huge gathering indicates the respect he commands among the masses.”
Cultural programmes were held at Basu’s residence to mark the occasion.