West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief on the passing away of former CM and Communist Party of India (Marxist) veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Thursday. The CPI(M) Politbureau member breathed his last at the age of 80 at his south Kolkata residence on Thursday morning after suffering from respiratory problems.
"I am saddened by the sudden demise of former West Bengal Chief Minister Shri Buddhadev Bhattacharya," the Bengal CM said in a post on X, adding: "I have known him for decades and visited him at home a few times when he was ill in the last few years."
"I feel very sad right now," she said and offered "sincere condolences" to his wife, Meera and son, Suchetan "in this time of bereavement."
She also offered condolences to all CPI (M) party members, supporters and all their followers.
It was in 2011 that Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress seized power in the Assembly elections after the Left lost its ground to stiff resistance that was meted out to Bhattacharjee's land acquisition attempts for the Tata plant in Singur.
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Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Legislative Assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari also paid his tribute to the CPI(M) leader .
In a post on X, Adhikari said: "I am deeply saddened to learn that former West Bengal Chief Minister; Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has left for his heavenly abode. Condolences to his family members and admirers. I pray that his soul finds eternal peace.