Jyoti Basu Dies At 95
By Naiwrita, Gaea News NetworkSunday, January 17, 2010
KOLKATA, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The veteran leader of the Communist Party Of India-Marxist, Jyoti Basu, died on Sunday, Jan 17, around 11:45 in the morning. He had been the longest serving Prime Minister in the political history of West Bengal. Although he had voluntarily stepped down from the post of the Chief Minister in 2000, due to deteriorating health, he had continued to be an extremely eminent personality in the political scenario till his death. Jyoti Basu passed away at the age of 95, and is survived by his son, Chandan Basu.
The news that Jyoti Basu had died had been first reported by the state secretary of the Communist Party Of India-Marxist, Biman Bose. Jyoti Basu’s condition had been critical since the past few days, as reported by the doctors attending him in the AMRI Hospital, close to his residence in Salt Lake. He had been put on ventilator support, and had also been undergoing dialysis. A few days back, it had been reported that his condition had improved only slightly, recording lower need for oxygen. However, very soon, it was reported that his health was declining fast. He had also been put on a temporary pacemaker.
Jyoti Basu, till he died, had been one of the most eminent figures in the political scenario of West Bengal. He had been the Chief minister of the state for almost thirty years, a tenure that made him the longest running minister in the history of West Bengal. He stepped down from the position in 2000, but continued to be a major influence on the politics of Bengal as a member of the Politburo.
