KOLKATA: Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee died on Thursday at his Kolkata home, CPI(M) state secretary Mohd Salim said.
He was suffering from old age-related ailments.
The former chief minister was 80 and is survived by his wife Mira and daughter Suchetana.
A party official said Bhattacharjee died at around 8.30 am.
The veteran CPI(M) leader took over as the chief minister of West Bengal in 2000 from party senior Jyoti Basu.
Bhattacharya lost the 2011 assembly election to Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M)-led Left Front's 34-year-long rule in the state came to an end that year.
His tenure was marked by agitations over the acquisition of land for industries led by present Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Bhattacharya stepped down from the CPI(M) politburo and central committee in 2015 and gave up membership of the party's state secretariat in 2018.
Over the last few years, he mostly stayed away from public programmes and remained confined to his two-room government apartment at Palm Avenue in south Kolkata.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and said he will be remembered for his work.
After visiting the south Kolkata residence of Bhattacharjee, Banerjee said that her government declared a holiday on Thursday. She had earlier said that the state government will provide him with full respect and ceremonial honour during his last journey.
"He will remain in the minds of the people... he will be remembered for his work," she told reporters.
Banerjee reacted to the news of the death of her predecessor saying she was "shocked and saddened."
"Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. I have known him for 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," Banerjee said on X.
She also expressed condolences to members of the CPI(M) party and all his followers.
"We have already taken a decision that we shall give him full respect and ceremonial honour during his last journey and rites," Banerjee said.
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose said the CPI(M) leader had earned the respect and love of people.
"Governor Bose condoles the sad demise of former Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee," the Raj Bhavan said in a statement.
"In his condolence message, the governor recalled that Buddhadeb was a leader who won the love and respect from people of all walks of life with his simple life, high thinking, and affinity to literature and culture," it added.
Politicians from different fronts also expressed their condolences over the demise of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik said the tall politician will be remembered for his contribution to nation-building.
"Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former West Bengal Chief Minister #BuddhadebaBhattacharjee. He will be remembered for his probity in public life, welfare initiatives and his contribution to nation-building. My condolences to the bereaved family members and admirers," he wrote on X.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu described Bhattacharjee, as a great leader with a lasting legacy.
"I am saddened by the demise of Former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. His vast tenure of over five decades as an MLA, Minister, and eventually as Chief Minister has left a lasting legacy," Khandu posted on X.
