New Delhi: Veteran CPI(M) leader and former Lok Sabha MP Basudeb Acharia passed away at 81 on Monday in Hyderabad. Acharia was suffering from old-age-related illnesses and was admitted to a private hospital, reported news agency PTI.
Acharia was suffering from respiratory and other health issues and the end came at about 1 PM on Monday, CPI(M) Telangana state committee member D G Narasimha Rao said.
Acharia was staying in Hyderabad with his family members. His wife predeceased him, Rao said.
The body would be flown to West Bengal where the funeral would take place, he added.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condoled the demise of the veteran leader and called him a leader of "formidable strength".
In a post on Platform X, Banerjee wrote, "Saddened at the demise of the veteran Left leader and former MP Basudeb Acharia. He was a trade union leader and Parliamentarian of formidable strength and his departure will cause significant loss in public life. Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues."
Born on July 11, 1942, in Purulia, the veteran leader was elected to the Lok Sabha nine times from 1980 to 2009 from the Bankura constituency.
In 2014, he was defeated by Trinamool Congress candidate Munmun Sen in the Bankura constituency.
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) also expressed profound grief at the death of Acharia.
"The Polit Bureau conveys its heartfelt condolences to his two daughters and son," the CPI(M) said in a statement.
"Born on July 11, 1942, in Purulia, Acharia was involved in politics from his student life. He left his job as a school teacher and became a full time worker of the party. He was elected to the party's Purulia district committee in 1981, to the West Bengal State Committee in 1985 and to the Central Committee of the party in 2005. In 2018, he was elected as the Chairman of the Central Control Commission," it said.
Acharia was a member of the General Council and the Working Committee of the CITU. He had served several Parliamentary committees and was in the Railways standing committee for 25 years.