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{{short description|8th Chief Minister of West Bengal}}
{{Short description|Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    = <!-- Do not add any styles/titles here per [[WP:NCIN]] -->
| name                = Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
| name                = Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
| image              = The Chief Minister of West Bengal Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, addressing at the 52nd National Development Council Meeting at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on December 9, 2006.jpg
| image              = File:Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in 2006.jpg
| caption            = Bhattacharjee in December 2006
| caption            = Bhattacharjee in 2006
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1944|3|1|df=y}}
| order1              = 7th
| birth_place        = [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| office1            = Chief Minister of West Bengal
| residence          = Palm Avenue, [[Kolkata]]
| governor1        = {{Collapsible list|[[Viren J. Shah]]<br />[[Gopalkrishna Gandhi]]<br />[[Devanand Konwar]] ''(acting)''<br />[[M. K. Narayanan]]}}
| alma_mater          = [[Presidency University, Kolkata|Presidency College]]
| predecessor1        = [[Jyoti Basu]]
| relations          = [[Sukanta Bhattacharya]] (uncle)
| successor1          = [[Mamata Banerjee]]
| office7            = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]], [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly|West Bengal]]
| term_start1         = 6 November 2000
| term_start8         = 1977
| term_end1           = 20 May 2011
| term_end8           = 1982
| office2            = 3rd [[List of deputy chief ministers of West Bengal|Deputy Chief Minister of West Bengal]]
| constituency8      = [[Cossipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Cossipur]]
| predecessor8        = Prafulla Kanti Ghosh
| successor8          = Prafulla Kanti Ghosh
| office2            = 2nd [[List of deputy chief ministers of West Bengal|Deputy Chief Minister of West Bengal]]
| 1blankname2        = Chief Minister
| 1blankname2        = Chief Minister
| 1namedata2          = [[Jyoti Basu]]
| 1namedata2          = [[Jyoti Basu]]
| term_start2        = 12 January 1999
| term_start2        = 12 January 1999
| term_end2          = 5 November 2000<ref name="Business Standard">{{cite web|author=Business Standard |url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mamata-to-take-over-as-bengal-cmfriday-/135376/on |title=Mamata to take over as Bengal CM on Friday |publisher=Business-standard.com |date=2011-05-16 |access-date=2012-07-11}}</ref>
| term_end2          = 5 November 2000
| predecessor2        = [[Jyoti Basu]]
| predecessor2        = [[Bijoy Singh Nahar]]
| successor2          = Vacant
| successor2          = ''Vacant''
| order1              = 7th
| office1            = Chief Minister of West Bengal
| governor1 = [[Viren J. Shah]]<br/>[[Gopalkrishna Gandhi]]<br/>[[Devanand Konwar]]<br/>[[M. K. Narayanan]]
| term_start1        = 6 November 2000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/news/2000/nov/06beng1.htm|title=rediff.com: Bhattacharya sworn-in as Bengal seventh CM|website=m.rediff.com}}</ref>
| term_end1          = 13 May 2011<ref name="Business Standard"/>
| office9            = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
| office9            = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
| term_start9        = 2002
| term_start9        = 2002
| term_end9          = 2015
| term_end9          = 2015
| predecessor1        = [[Jyoti Basu]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Cabinet Minister, West Bengal
| successor1          = [[Mamata Banerjee]]
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed = yes
| party              = [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
| office3         = Minister of Home Affairs & Police
| constituency7      = [[Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jadavpur]]
| office3            = [[Third Banerjee ministry|Cabinet Minister]], [[Government of West Bengal]]
| 1blankname3        = [[List of Chief Minister of West Bengal|Chief Minister]]
| governor3 =  
| 1namedata3         = [[Jyoti Basu]]
| 2blankname3        = Ministry and Departments
| 2namedata3          = [[Department of Home and Hill Affairs|Home and Hill Affairs]]
| term_start3        = 1996
| term_start3        = 1996
| term_end3          = 5 November 2000
| term_end3          = 2011
| 1blankname4        = [[List of Chief Minister of West Bengal|Chief Minister]]
| office4 = Minister of Information and Culture
| 1namedata4          = [[Jyoti Basu]]
| 2blankname4        = Ministry and Departments
| 2namedata4          = Information and Culture
| term_start4        = 1987
| term_start4        = 1987
| term_end4          = 1996
| term_end4          = 2011
| 2blankname5        = Ministry and Departments
| 2namedata5          = Information and Culture
| term_start5        = 1977
| term_start5        = 1977
| term_end5          = 1982
| term_end5          = 1982
| office6          = Minister of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs
| term_start6        = 1987
| term_end6          = 1996
}}{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Legislative offices
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed = yes
| office7            = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]], [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly|West Bengal]]
| term_start8        = 1977
| term_end8          = 1982
| constituency8      = [[Cossipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Cossipur]]
| predecessor8        = Prafulla Kanti Ghosh
| successor8          = Prafulla Kanti Ghosh
| constituency7      = [[Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jadavpur]]
| term_start7        = 1987
| term_start7        = 1987
| term_end7          = 2011
| term_end7          = 2011
| predecessor7        = [[Ashok Mitra]]<ref>[[Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)]] (Wikipedia)</ref>
| predecessor7        = [[Ashok Mitra]]<ref>[[Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)]]</ref>
| successor7          = [[Manish Gupta (politician)|Manish Gupta]]
| successor7          = [[Manish Gupta (politician)|Manish Gupta]]
}}{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1944|3|1|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2024|8|8|1944|3|1|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], India
| death_cause        = [[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]]
| residence          = Palm Avenue, Kolkata, India
| alma_mater          = [[Presidency University, Kolkata|Presidency College]]
| relations          = [[Sukanta Bhattacharya]] (uncle)
| party              = [[Image:CPI-M-flag.svg|18px]] [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
| spouse              = Meera Bhattacharjee
| children            = Suchetan (Born: Suchetana) Bhattacharjee
}}


}}
'''Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee''' (1 March 1944 – 8 August 2024) was an Indian [[Communism|communist]] politician, statesman and a member of the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)]], who served as the 7th [[List of Chief Ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister of West Bengal]] from 2000 to 2011. In a political career over five decades, he became one of the senior leaders of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] during his regime.
'''Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee''' (born 1 March 1944) is an Indian [[Communism|communist]] politician and a former member of the [[Politburo]] of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]. He served as the [[List of Chief Ministers of West Bengal|7th Chief Minister of West Bengal]] from 2000 to 2011. In a political career over 5 decades, he became one of the senior leader of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] during his regime.


Bhattacharjee was known for his relatively open policies regarding business, as financial policies of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]] was primarily [[Anti-capitalism|anti-capitalist]]. But trying to do so, Bhattacharjee in his tenure as [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|CM]] faced strong land acquisition protests and allegations about violence against the protesters. This lead Bhattacharjee to lose the [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|election in 2011]] resulting the fall of [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]'s 34 years of rule in [[West Bengal]], the world's longest democratically elected communist government.
Bhattacharjee described himself as a "communist compromising with [[capitalism]]" for promoting industrialization in [[West Bengal]], but his efforts were undermined by [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee#Singur Tata Nano controversy and Nandigram violence|controversies]].<ref name="Frontline_Aug2024"/> He was known for his relatively open policies regarding business, in contrast with the previous financial policies of the [[CPI(M)]], which were  primarily [[anti-capitalist]]. However, he faced strong land acquisition protests and allegations about violence against the protesters. This led Bhattacharjee to lose the [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2011 elections]], resulting in the fall of [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]'s 34 years of rule in West Bengal.


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Born in 1944 in north [[Calcutta]], Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee belongs to a family which had produced another famous son. Revolutionary poet [[Sukanta Bhattacharya]] was his father's cousin. A former student of [[Sailendra Sircar Vidyalaya]],<ref>[http://www.cpim.org/bio/buddhadeb_bhattacharjee.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116011444/http://www.cpim.org/bio/buddhadeb_bhattacharjee.htm|date=16 January 2008}}</ref> Bhattacharjee had his ancestral house in [[Bangladesh]]. He studied Bengali literature at the [[List of Kolkata Presidencians|Presidency College]], Kolkata, and secured his B.A. degree in Bengali (Honors), and joined a government school as a teacher.
Bhattacharjee was born in [[British Raj]] India on 1 March 1944 in Calcutta to a [[Bengali Brahmin]] family. His grandfather, Krishnachandra Smrititirtha was a Sanskrit scholar who had composed a priestly manual named ''Purohit Darpan'', which remains popular with [[Bengali Hindu]] Bramins in West Bengal. Buddhadeb's father, Nepalchandra, did not enter into the priesthood and was involved with the family publication, Saraswat Library, devoted to selling Hindu religious material.<ref name=A>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2011|title=A ritual bond with Buddha|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/a-ritual-bond-with-buddha/cid/392630 |website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref> Poet [[Sukanta Bhattacharya]] was Nepalchandra's cousin. A former student of [[Sailendra Sircar Vidyalaya]], Buddhadeb studied Bengali literature at the [[Presidency University, Kolkata|Presidency College]], Kolkata, and secured his B.A. degree in Bengali (Honours). He then joined Adarsh Shankha Vidya Mandir school at [[Dum Dum]] as a teacher.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Choudhary |first=Ratnadeep |date=1 March 2019 |title=Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, the last Left chief minister of West Bengal |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/buddhadeb-bhattacharya-the-last-left-chief-minister-of-west-bengal/199781/ |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=22 August 2011 |title=Buddhadeb Bhattacharya |url=https://www.cpim.org/content/buddhadeb-bhattacharya |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=Communist Party of India (Marxist) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=rediff.com Profile/Buddhadeb Bhattacharya |url=https://m.rediff.com/news/2000/nov/07budh.htm |access-date=8 August 2024 |website=m.rediff.com}}</ref>


== Early political career==
== Political career ==
He joined the CPI(M) as a primary member in 1966.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wbgov.com/e-gov/English/CM.asp|title=wbgov.com|website=www.wbgov.com}}</ref> Besides taking active part in the food movement, he also supported [[Vietnam]]'s cause in 1968. In 1968, he was elected state secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation, the youth wing of the CPI(M) that was later merged into the [[Democratic Youth Federation of India]]. He served in the position till 1981, when he was succeeded by Boren Basu. He was mentored by [[Promode Dasgupta|Pramod Dasgupta]].


==Political career==
=== Initial career (1966–1971) ===
Bhattacharjee was elected to the state committee of CPI(M) in 1972 and was inducted in the state secretariat in 1982.
Bhattacharjee joined the CPI(M) as a primary member in 1966. Besides taking active part in the food movement, he also supported [[Vietnam War|Vietnam's cause]] in 1968. In 1968, he was elected as the state secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation, the youth wing of the CPI(M), that was later merged into the [[Democratic Youth Federation of India]]. He served in the position till 1981, when he was succeeded by Boren Basu. He was mentored by [[Promode Dasgupta]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


At first he was the [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] of [[Kashipur-Belgachhia (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kashipur-Belgachia]] from 1977 to 1982. Bhattacharjee served as Minister in West Bengal Cabinet as Minister of Information and Public Relations between 1977 and 1982.
=== Recognition, election as MLA and ministership (1972–2000) ===
Bhattacharjee was elected to the state committee of CPI(M) in 1972 and was inducted in the state secretariat in 1982.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


He lost the assembly elections in 1982 from Cossipur constituency in 1982 by a slender margin. He was made a permanent invitee to the central committee of CPI(M) in 1984 and was made a member in 1985.
From 1977 to 1982, he was elected as the [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] of [[Kashipur-Belgachhia (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kashipur-Belgachia]]. Bhattacharjee served as the Minister of Information and Public Relations in the West Bengal Cabinet between 1977 and 1982.<ref name=":1" />


Later he became the [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] of [[Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jadavpur]] in 1987 and continued to represent the constituency till 2011. He was re-inducted in the cabinet in 1987 minister of Information and Cultural Affairs. He also held other departments, such as urban development and tourism, on temporary basis.
In 1982, he lost the assembly elections from Cossipur constituency in 1982 by a slender margin. He was made a permanent invitee to the central committee of CPI(M) in 1984 and was made a member in 1985.<ref name=":0" />


He was included in the cabinet in 1991 as Information and Cultural Affairs minister, however, he abruptly resigned from his position in September 1993 following differences with the chief minister on the functioning of the administration and the alleged issue of corruption.<ref>[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19930930-buddhadev-bhattacharya-makes-abrupt-exit-from-left-front-government-811570-1993-09-29], Buddhadev Bhattacharya makes abrupt exit from Left Front government, India Today, September 30, 1993</ref> He returned to the cabinet a few months later.
Later, in 1987, he became the MLA of [[Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jadavpur]] and continued to represent the constituency till 2011. He was re-inducted in the cabinet in 1987 as the Minister of Information and Cultural Affairs. He also held departments of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


In 1996, after the [[1996 West Bengal state assembly election|1996 West Bengal election]] Bhattacharjee was handed over the responsibility of home and police department, owing to the old health of Chief Minister Jyoti Basu. In 1999, he was made the Deputy Chief minister [[List of deputy chief ministers of West Bengal|Deputy Chief Minister of West Bengal]] of West Bengal.
He was included in the cabinet in 1991 as a minister, with the portfolios of Information and Cultural Affairs and Urban Development and Municipal Affairs. However, he abruptly resigned from his position in September 1993, following differences with then [[Chief Minister of West Bengal]], [[Jyoti Basu]], regarding the functioning of the administration and the alleged issue of corruption.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhadev Bhattacharya makes abrupt exit from Left Front government |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19930930-buddhadev-bhattacharya-makes-abrupt-exit-from-left-front-government-811570-1993-09-29 |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=India Today |date=30 September 1993 |language=en}}</ref> Notably, he remarked that  Basu's cabinet was a "council of thieves".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://openthemagazine.com/features/india/the-loneliness-of-buddhadeb/|title=The Loneliness of Buddhadeb|date=17 September 2009 }}</ref> He returned to the cabinet a few months later.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}


On November 6, 2000, he was elevated to the position of Chief Minister after Basu stepped down. In 2002, he was elected to the politburo of CPI(M).
Following the [[1996 West Bengal state assembly election|1996 West Bengal election]], Bhattacharjee was handed the responsibility of the home and police department, owing to the declining health of the elderly Chief Minister Basu. In 1999, he was made the Deputy Chief minister of West Bengal.


== Chief Minister of West Bengal ==
=== Chief Minister of West Bengal (2001–2011) ===
[[File:BuddhadebBabu.jpg|thumb|Bhattacharjee in 2001]]
On 6 November 2000, he was elevated to the position of Chief Minister after Basu's resignation. In 2002, he was elected to the politburo of CPI(M).<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2000 |title=END OF AN ERA |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/article30255350.ece |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=Frontline |language=en}}</ref>


Bhattacharjee was elected Chief Minister of West Bengal and was sworn in a solemn ceremony at Raj Bhawan.
Bhattacharjee was elected Chief Minister of West Bengal and was sworn in in a solemn ceremony at Raj Bhawan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhadeb sworn in Bengal CM |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010519/nation.htm |website=The Tribune}}</ref> As Chief Minister, he led the CPI(M)-led [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] to two successive election victories in 2001 and 2006. In 2001, the Left Front secured 199 out of 294 assembly seats and in 2006, it improved the tally to 235 out of 294 seats.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ghosh |first=Arunabha |date=2001 |title=West Bengal Assembly Elections, 2001: An Overview |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42753666 |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |volume=62 |issue=2 |pages=179–187 |jstor=42753666 |issn=0019-5510}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=West Bengal voters reward CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya for pursuing investment, goodwill |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20060522-west-bengal-voters-reward-buddhadeb-bhattacharya-for-pursuing-investment-785299-2006-05-21 |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=India Today |date=22 May 2006 |language=en}}</ref>


As Chief Minister, he lead the CPI(M)-led [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] to two successive election victory in 2001 and 2006. In 2001, Left Front  secured 199 out of 294 assembly seats and in 2006, it improved the tally to 235 out of 294 seats.
Bhattacharjee's tenure saw major incidents of violence perpetrated by the cadres of the ruling CPI(M) like the [[Chhoto Angaria massacre]], the [[Netai]] killings and the [[Dhantala]] case. There was also an escalation of [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency|Maoist attacks]] in the state, the most notable being the [[Silda camp attack|attack on a police camp at Silda]], [[Operation Lalgarh|violence in Lalgarh]] and the [[Jnaneswari Express train derailment]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} Bhattacharya himself survived an assassination attempt by Maoists in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 November 2008 |title=Buddha, Paswan escape landmine blast |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080070919&ch=633612431125153750 |work=NDTV}}</ref>


He started an industrialization drive in West Bengal to bring in more investment and jobs in the states. Under his government West Bengal saw investments in IT and services sector.
Bhattacharjee started an industrialization drive in West Bengal to bring in more investment and jobs in the states. Under his government, West Bengal saw investments in the IT and services sector.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thakur |first=Pradeep |date=24 May 2011 |title=Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee steered West Bengal to 4th position in industrial growth |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-steered-west-bengal-to-4th-position-in-industrial-growth/articleshow/8552710.cms?from=mdr |access-date=21 August 2023 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> Bhattacharjee described himself as a "communist compromising with [[capitalism]]" for promoting industrialization in the state, though his efforts did not succeed to the extent he had expected due to ensuing controversies.<ref name="Frontline_Aug2024">{{cite news |last1=Chattopadhyay |first1=Suhrid Sankar |title=Tribute {{!}} Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (1944-2024): Poet-Politician Who Dreamed of an Industrial Renaissance for West Bengal |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-1944-2024-tribute-former-west-bengal-chief-minister-poet-politician-dream-industrial-renaissance-cpim-left-front/article68500899.ece |access-date=30 January 2026 |work=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]] |date=8 August 2024}}</ref>


However, he took the biggest risk of his political career by embarking upon the industrialization drive to change the face of West Bengal, which had agriculture as primary source of income. He invited foreign and national capital to set up factories in West Bengal, as capital was in possession of large industrialists in India. From a state government perspective, he was not able to increase tax to seize or distribute the wealth. Therefore, he wanted to march towards wage-labor economy by increasing the industrial activity. He referred his strategy as Lenin's famous [[One Step Forward, Two Steps Back]].
Notable among the invited projects was that of the production of the world's cheapest car, the [[Tata Nano]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article3164205.ece |title=The Sunday Times |publisher=Timesonline.co.uk |date=13 March 2012 |access-date=11 July 2012 |archive-date=30 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830073930/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article3164205.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref> in [[Singur]], a small town near Kolkata. Other notable proposals included the country's largest integrated steel plant in [[Salboni]] by the Jindal group. Another notable proposed project was a [[chemical hub]] at [[Nayachar]], after it had faced resistance from farmers in [[Nandigram]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}


Notable among them the invited projects was the world's cheapest car, [[Tata Nano]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article3164205.ece |title=The Sunday Times |publisher=Timesonline.co.uk |date=2012-03-13 |access-date=2012-07-11}}</ref> from a small hamlet near Kolkata called Singur. There were other proposals too, such as country's largest integrated steel plant in Salboni, West Midanpore district by Jindal group, and a [[chemical hub]] at [[Nayachar]] after it faced agrarian resistance in [[Nandigram]].
However, his plans were perceived negatively, and his party, along with its front partners, suffered heavy losses in the [[2009 Indian general election]]. In the [[2011 West Bengal state assembly election|2011 state assembly election]], he was defeated at [[Jadavpur Assembly constituency|Jadavpur]] by the former [[Chief Secretary (India)|Chief Secretary]] of his own government, and the [[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamool congress]] candidate Manish Gupta by 16,684 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The man who beat Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for the first time in 24 years |url=https://www.ndtv.com/assembly/the-man-who-beat-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-for-the-first-time-in-24-years-455760 |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> He became the second [[Chief Minister of West Bengal|West Bengal Chief Minister]] to lose an election from his own constituency, after [[Prafulla Chandra Sen]] in 1967.<ref>[http://in.news.yahoo.com/buddhadeb-loses-jadavpore-114750853.html "Buddhadeb loses from Jadavpore"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204060706/https://in.news.yahoo.com/buddhadeb-loses-jadavpore-114750853.html |date=4 December 2014 }}, ''Yahoo! News'', 13 May 2011.</ref> The Left Front saw a drubbing, securing just 62 seats out of 294. He resigned as Chief Minister on 13 May 2011.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}
 
However, his plans backfired, and his party, along with its front partners, suffered heavy losses in the 2009 Lok Sabha election. In the [[2011 West Bengal state assembly election|2011 state assembly election]] he was defeated by former [[Chief Secretary (India)|Chief Secretary]] of his own government, and the [[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamool congress]] candidate Manish Gupta by 16,684 votes.
 
He is the second [[Chief Minister of West Bengal|West Bengal Chief Minister]] to lose an election from his own constituency, after [[Prafulla Chandra Sen]] in 1967.<ref>[http://in.news.yahoo.com/buddhadeb-loses-jadavpore-114750853.html "Buddhadeb loses from Jadavpore"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204060706/https://in.news.yahoo.com/buddhadeb-loses-jadavpore-114750853.html |date=4 December 2014 }}, ''Yahoo! News'', May 13, 2011.</ref> The Left Front saw a drubbing, securing just 62 seats out of 294. He resigned as Chief Minister on May 13, 2011.


== Singur Tata Nano controversy and Nandigram violence ==
== Singur Tata Nano controversy and Nandigram violence ==
{{Main|Singur Tata Nano controversy|Nandigram violence}}
{{Main|Singur Tata Nano controversy|Nandigram violence}}
Events during his tenure as Chief Minister included attempts to industrialize West Bengal thwarted by the [[Tata Group|TATA]]'s [[Tata Motors]] leaving [[West Bengal|Bengal]] in the face of the joint protests of the [[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamool Congress]],<ref>[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/west-bengal-polls-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-has-himself-to-blame/1/138126.html "WB polls: Buddha has himself to blame for Left-front's loss"], ''India Today'', May 14, 2011. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517045314/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/west-bengal-polls-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-has-himself-to-blame/1/138126.html |date=17 May 2011 }}</ref> [[Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)|Socialist Unity Centre of India]], and [[Indian National Congress]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=India|first=One|date=December 3, 2006|title=BJP President Rajnath to visit Singur tomorrow|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2006/12/03/bjp-president-rajnath-to-visit-singur-tomorrow-1165160142.html}}</ref> the [[Singur Tata Nano controversy|land acquisition dispute]] in [[Singur]], the [[Nandigram violence|Nandigram incident]],<ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/exit-buddhadeb-man-who-saw-beyond-ideological-convictions/articleshow/8316619.cms " Exit Buddhadeb, man who saw beyond ideological convictions"], ''The Economic Times'', May 14, 2011. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019005638/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/exit-buddhadeb-man-who-saw-beyond-ideological-convictions/articleshow/8316619.cms |date=19 October 2012 }}</ref> and the Netai incident.<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/CPM-pays-for-Netai--suffers-losses-in-Junglemahal/790753/ " CPM pays for Netai, suffers losses in Junglemahal"], ''Indian Express'', May 14, 2011.</ref>
Events during his tenure as Chief Minister included attempts to industrialize West Bengal thwarted by the [[Tata Group|TATA]]'s [[Tata Motors]] leaving [[West Bengal|Bengal]] in the face of the joint protests of the [[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamool Congress]],<ref>[https://www.indiatoday.in/assembly-elections-2011/west-bengal/story/west-bengal-polls-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-has-himself-to-blame-133736-2011-05-13 "WB polls: Buddha has himself to blame for Left-front's loss"], ''India Today'', 14 May 2011. [https://www.indiatoday.in/assembly-elections-2011/west-bengal/story/west-bengal-polls-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-has-himself-to-blame-133736-2011-05-13]</ref> [[Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)|Socialist Unity Centre of India]], and [[Indian National Congress]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=India|first=One|date=3 December 2006|title=BJP President Rajnath to visit Singur tomorrow|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2006/12/03/bjp-president-rajnath-to-visit-singur-tomorrow-1165160142.html|access-date=14 December 2020|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619093210/https://www.oneindia.com/2006/12/03/bjp-president-rajnath-to-visit-singur-tomorrow-1165160142.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Singur Tata Nano controversy|land acquisition dispute]] in [[Singur]], the [[Nandigram violence|Nandigram incident]],<ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/exit-buddhadeb-man-who-saw-beyond-ideological-convictions/articleshow/8316619.cms " Exit Buddhadeb, man who saw beyond ideological convictions"], ''The Economic Times'', 14 May 2011. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019005638/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/exit-buddhadeb-man-who-saw-beyond-ideological-convictions/articleshow/8316619.cms |date=19 October 2012 }}</ref> and the Netai incident.<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/CPM-pays-for-Netai--suffers-losses-in-Junglemahal/790753/ " CPM pays for Netai, suffers losses in Junglemahal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729141007/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/cpm-pays-for-netai-suffers-losses-in-junglemahal/ |date=29 July 2023 }}, ''Indian Express'', 14 May 2011.</ref>


In January 2006 the [[Supreme Court of India]] issued notices to Left Front Government ministers including Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and others in relation to land allotments made in the [[Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata|Salt Lake City]] township in [[Kolkata]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070314084023/http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/24/stories/2006012405351200.htm "Court notice to Jyoti Basu"], ''The Hindu'', January 24, 2006.</ref>
In January 2006 the [[Supreme Court of India]] issued notices to Left Front Government ministers including Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and others in relation to land allotments made in the [[Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata|Salt Lake City]] township in [[Kolkata]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070314084023/http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/24/stories/2006012405351200.htm "Court notice to Jyoti Basu"], ''The Hindu'', 24 January 2006.</ref>


Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's Government came under heavy criticism for [[Nandigram SEZ controversy|police action against demonstrators in Nandigram in East Midnapore]]. He was criticized not only by opposition parties (such as the [[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamool congress]], [[Party of Democratic Socialism (India)|Party of Democratic Socialism]], [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation]], [[Communist Revolutionary League of India]] and others) and other Left Front coalition allies like [[Communist Party of India]], [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)]] and [[Forward Bloc]], who threatened to back out from the ministry on this issue, but also by his mentor and the state's former chief minister, Jyoti Basu.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's Government came under heavy criticism for [[Nandigram SEZ controversy|police action against demonstrators in Nandigram in East Midnapore]]. He was criticized not only by opposition parties (such as the [[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamool Congress]], [[Indian National Congress|INC]], [[Party of Democratic Socialism (India)|PDS]], [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation|CPI(ML)L]], [[Communist Revolutionary League of India|CRLI]] and others) and other Left Front coalition allies like [[Communist Party of India|CPI]], [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|RSP]] and [[Forward Bloc|AIFB]], who threatened to back out from the ministry on this issue, but also by his mentor and the state's former chief minister, [[Jyoti Basu]].


On March 15, 2007, Basu criticized Bhattacharjee for failing to restrain the police in Nandigram.<ref>Subir Bhaumik, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6457035.stm "India strike over police shooting"], BBC News, March 16, 2007.</ref> Bhattacharjee expressed regret for the shootings, but claimed that he permitted police action because Nandigram was an "area where there had been no rule of law and no presence of an administration for not one, two or 10 days but for two-and-a-half months, and many hundreds of villagers left Nandigram, and took shelter in a state relief camp outside Nandigram."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070325180555/http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/16/stories/2007031609061400.htm "Deaths in violence unfortunate, says Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee"], ''The Hindu'', March 16, 2007.</ref> Actually Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee declared that land in Nandigram won't be acquired by ordering the Nandigram notification to be torn apart.<ref name="hindu2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/16/stories/2007031609061400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325180555/http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/16/stories/2007031609061400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-03-25 |title=National : Deaths in violence unfortunate, says Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee |date=2007-03-16 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2012-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rxpgnews.com/business/Tear-apart-Nandigram-notification-Buddhadeb-_printer.shtml |title=Tear apart Nandigram notification: Buddhadeb |publisher=Rxpgnews.com |access-date=2012-07-11}}</ref> Still police were not allowed to enter Nandigram. Roads were dug up, preventing administration from entering the area.<ref name="hindu2007"/>
On 15 March 2007, Basu criticized Bhattacharjee for failing to restrain the police in Nandigram.<ref>Subir Bhaumik, [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6457035.stm "India strike over police shooting"], BBC News, 16 March 2007.</ref> Bhattacharjee expressed regret for the shootings, but claimed that he permitted police action because Nandigram was an "area where there had been no rule of law and no presence of an administration for not one, two or 10 days but for two-and-a-half months, and many hundreds of villagers left Nandigram, and took shelter in a state relief camp outside Nandigram."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070325180555/http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/16/stories/2007031609061400.htm "Deaths in violence unfortunate, says Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee"], ''The Hindu'', 16 March 2007.</ref> Actually Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee declared that land in Nandigram wouldn't be acquired by ordering the Nandigram notification to be torn apart.<ref name="hindu2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/16/stories/2007031609061400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325180555/http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/16/stories/2007031609061400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 March 2007 |title=National : Deaths in violence unfortunate, says Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee |date=16 March 2007 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rxpgnews.com/business/Tear-apart-Nandigram-notification-Buddhadeb-_printer.shtml |title=Tear apart Nandigram notification: Buddhadeb |publisher=Rxpgnews.com |access-date=11 July 2012 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721211240/http://www.rxpgnews.com/business/Tear-apart-Nandigram-notification-Buddhadeb-_printer.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Still police were not allowed to enter Nandigram. Roads were dug up, preventing administration from entering the area.<ref name="hindu2007"/>


The CPI(M) declared that they were totally behind Bhattacharjee and had drawn up "plans" to placate his critics in the Left Front.<ref>Subrata Nagchoudhury, [http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/25999.html "Party stands by Buddha, gets restive allies to fall in line"], indianexpress.com, March 18, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017191927/http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/25999.html |date=17 October 2007 }}</ref> His government was also criticized by Left supporters for failing to protect the Left party workers (including his own party CPI(M)) who came under assault from political opponents - both right wing and ultra-left wing Maoists during the post-Nandigram turmoil until the end of 7th Left Front Government.
The CPI(M) declared that they were totally behind Bhattacharjee and had drawn up "plans" to placate his critics in the Left Front.<ref>Subrata Nagchoudhury, [http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/25999.html "Party stands by Buddha, gets restive allies to fall in line"], indianexpress.com, 18 March 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017191927/http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/25999.html |date=17 October 2007 }}</ref> His government was also criticized by Left supporters for failing to protect the Left party workers (including his own party CPI(M)) who came under assault from political opponents - both right wing and ultra-left wing Maoists during the post-Nandigram turmoil until the end of 7th Left Front Government.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}


== Later life ==
== Electoral history ==
Despite his calls to be relieved of party responsibilities, Bhattacharjee was retained as a member of the politburo and the central committee in the 20th party congress, organised at Kozhikode in 2012.
Bhattacharjee was elected as [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]] from [[Cossipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)]] once and from [[Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)]] for five consecutive terms.


He was relieved of his posts on the Politburo and Central Committee at the 21st party congress, organised at Vishakhapatnam in 2015. The party congress elected him as a special invitee to the Central Committee. However, he was persuaded to remain a member of the state committee and the state secretariat till 2018.
{| class="wikitable"
!Election
Year
!House
!Constituency
!colspan="2"|Party affiliation
! Result
|-
| [[1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
|rowspan="8"|[[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Cossipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Cossipur]]
|{{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)|rowspan=8}}
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[1982 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1982]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[1987 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1987]]
|rowspan="6"|[[Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jadavpur]]
|{{Won}}
|-
| [[1991 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1991]]
|{{Won}}
|-
| [[1996 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1996]]
|{{Won}}
|-
| [[2001 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2001]]
|{{Won}}
|-
| [[2006 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2006]]
|{{Won}}
|-
| [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2011]]
|{{Lost}}
|-
|}


He continued to appear for party campaign and programs till 2017.
== Later life ==
Despite his calls to be relieved of party responsibilities, Bhattacharjee was retained as a member of the Politburo and the Central Committee in the 20th party congress, organised at Kozhikode in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhadeb skips CPI(M) party congress, gets elected to politburo |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20120423-buddhadeb-bhattacharya-skips-cpim-congress-elected-politburo-758058-2012-04-14 |access-date=21 August 2023 |website=India Today |date=14 April 2012 |language=en}}</ref>


In 2018, due to continuing ill-health he stepped down from the state committee and the state secretariat. He was later named as a special invitee to the state committee. In 2019, he made an attempt to attend a mega-rally at Brigade Parade ground in Kolkata, however, due to breathing difficulties he could not appear on the stage and remained seated in his car.
He was relieved of his posts on the [[Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Polit Bureau]] and Central Committee at the 21st party congress, organised at Vishakhapatnam in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ex-West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Remains Critical |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/ex-west-bengal-cm-buddhadeb-remains-critical-news-307004 |website=www.outlookindia.com|date=31 July 2023 }}</ref> The party congress elected him as a special invitee to the Central Committee. However, he was persuaded to remain a member of the state committee and the state secretariat till 2018. In 2018, due to continuing ill-health he stepped down from the state committee and the state secretariat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Steps Down From CPI(M) State Committee |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/former-west-bengal-chief-minister-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-steps-down-from-cpi-m-state-committee-1821485 |access-date=21 August 2023 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> He was later named as a special invitee to the state committee. In 2019, he made an attempt to attend a mega-rally at Brigade Parade ground in Kolkata, however, due to breathing difficulties he could not appear on the stage and remained seated in his car.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhadeb to miss Brigade rally due to poor health |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/buddhadeb-to-miss-brigade-rally-due-to-poor-health/cid/1808087 |access-date=21 August 2023 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref>


In 2022, he stepped down from all leadership roles, just retaining his primary membership of the party. However, Bhattacharjee remains a senior leader of CPI(M).
===Padma Bhushan rejection===
In January 2022, the [[Government of India]] awarded Bhattacharjee with the [[Padma Bhushan]], the third-highest civilian award in India. However, he declined the award and claimed that he had not been informed about the award. He said a call was made to his residence earlier in the day, while adding there is no provision of taking consent for giving Padma awards.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refuses Padma Bhushan award|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-refuses-padma-bhushan-award/article38325550.ece|access-date=27 January 2022|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127171205/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-refuses-padma-bhushan-award/article38325550.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title="No One Told Me": CPM's Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Rejects Padma Bhushan|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/no-one-told-me-cpms-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-rejects-padma-bhushan-2729790|access-date=27 January 2022|website=NDTV.com|language=en|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127171204/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/no-one-told-me-cpms-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-rejects-padma-bhushan-2729790|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=25 January 2022|title=Communist veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refuses Padma Bhushan|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/communist-veteran-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-refuses-padma-bhushan-101643127073965.html|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127171204/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/communist-veteran-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-refuses-padma-bhushan-101643127073965.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Awards: CPM's Veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Rejects Padma Bhushan|url=https://news.abplive.com/news/india/padma-awards-cpm-veteran-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-rejects-padma-bhushan-republic-day-ex-bengal-cm-1508802|access-date=27 January 2022|website=ABP Live|date=25 January 2022|language=en|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127171205/https://news.abplive.com/news/india/padma-awards-cpm-veteran-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-rejects-padma-bhushan-republic-day-ex-bengal-cm-1508802|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Why Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refused the Padma Bhushan|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-refused-the-padma-bhushan-1905363-2022-01-27|access-date=27 January 2022|website=India Today|date=27 January 2022 |language=en|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127171204/https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india-today-insight/story/why-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-refused-the-padma-bhushan-1905363-2022-01-27|url-status=live}}</ref>


'''The Padma Bhushan controversy'''
== Personal life ==
Bhattacharjee was married to Meera Bhattacharjee. Together, they had a child who underwent [[gender surgery]] and is now known as Suchetan Bhattacharjee.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 June 2023 |title=Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's daughter Suchetana may undergo sex-change operation: '…as a man' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/buddhadeb-bhattacharyas-daughter-suchetana-sex-change-operation-bengal-chief-minister-101687362694470.html |access-date=21 August 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> Bhattacharjee was renowned for his frugal lifestyle. He was also a scholar widely read and had acquaintance with literature of the world. Was fond of dogs and had several pets during his lifetime. Was also seen feeding and petting the stray dogs in his locality quite often. He was an inveterate music lover and quite knowledgeable about Indian classical music. He also had a quiet and quite unexpected sense of humour. The family lived in a two-room apartment in [[Ballygunge]], Kolkata. Bhattacharjee operated as Chief Minister from the same residence.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 April 2011 |title=Buddhadeb's assets: No house, no car, only Rs 5,000 in bank |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/assembly-elections-2011/west-bengal/buddhadebs-assets-no-house-no-car-only-rs-5000-in-bank/articleshow/7879992.cms |access-date=20 August 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Although belonging to a family of priests, Bhattacharjee was an avowed atheist, in accordance with the principles of communism.<ref name=A/>


In January 2022, [[Government of India|the Central Government of India]] bestowed Bhattacharjee with [[Padma Bhushan|the Padma Bhushan]], the third-highest civilian award in India. However, he declined the award and claimed that he had not been informed about the award. He said a call was made to his residence earlier in the day, while adding there is no provision of taking consent for giving Padma awards.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refuses Padma Bhushan award|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-refuses-padma-bhushan-award/article38325550.ece|access-date=2022-01-27|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title="No One Told Me": CPM's Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Rejects Padma Bhushan|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/no-one-told-me-cpms-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-rejects-padma-bhushan-2729790|access-date=2022-01-27|website=NDTV.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-25|title=Communist veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refuses Padma Bhushan|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/communist-veteran-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-refuses-padma-bhushan-101643127073965.html|access-date=2022-01-27|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Awards: CPM's Veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Rejects Padma Bhushan|url=https://news.abplive.com/news/india/padma-awards-cpm-veteran-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-rejects-padma-bhushan-republic-day-ex-bengal-cm-1508802|access-date=2022-01-27|website=ABP Live|date=25 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Why Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refused the Padma Bhushan|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india-today-insight/story/why-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-refused-the-padma-bhushan-1905363-2022-01-27|access-date=2022-01-27|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>
Bhattacharjee died from [[chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]] in Kolkata, on 8 August 2024, at the age of 80.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passes away |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/buddhadeb-bhattacharjee-cpm-leader-former-west-bengal-chief-minister-passes-away/cid/2039492 |access-date=8 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 August 2024 |title=The Marxist journey of 'Brand Buddha' Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/left-behind-the-marxist-journey-of-brand-buddha-buddhadeb-bhattacharjee/articleshow/112366309.cms |access-date=8 August 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>


Later, the [[CPI(M)]] General Secretary [[Sitaram Yechury]] clarified Bhattacharjee's stance in a tweet which said
==Works==
<blockquote>Former Party PB [Politburo] member & WB [West Bengal] CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya [Bhattacharjee] had this to say on the Padma Bhushan award announcement. “I don't know anything about Padman Bhusan award, none has said anything about it. If I have been given Padma Bhushan I refuse to accept it.”</blockquote>
* ''Duhsomoy'' ({{translation|''The Bad Times''}}) (1993): Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's play deals with the communal tension between Hindus and Muslims in the aftermath of the [[demolition of the Babri Masjid]].
 
* ''Biponno jaahaajer ek nabiker golpo'' (1994): Translation of ''[[The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor]]'' by [[Gabriel García Márquez]]
==Personal life==
* ''Ei aami Mayakovsky'' (1994): Translated works of Russian-Soviet poet [[Vladimir Mayakovsky]]
{{BLP unsourced section|date=December 2022}}
* ''Chilite gopone'' (1996): Translation of ''[[Clandestine in Chile]]'' by Gabriel García Márquez
He is married to Meera Bhattacharjee; they have a son. The family has lived in a two-room apartment in Ballygunge, Kolkata. He stayed at the two-room apartment for decades and operated as Chief Minister from the same residence.
* ''Hridayer shobdohin jyotsnar bhitor'' ({{translation|''Into the Silent Moonlight of Heart''}} (1997): Anthology of literary criticism on poetry penned by [[Jibanananda Das]]
 
* ''Phire dekha (prothom porbo)'' ({{translation|''Looking back (first part)''}}) (2015)
During Bhattacharjee's time in the cabinet, he made efforts to enhance literary culture in Bengal.
* ''Phire dekha (dwitiyo porbo)'' ({{translation|''Looking back (second part)''}}) (2017)
 
* ''Nazi Germanyr jonmo o mrityu'' ({{translation|''The Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany''}}) (2018)
As Information and Culture minister he undertook significant projects such as building Nandan, a film complex modelled on the British Film Institute; Bangla Akademi, a book publishing organisation and Rabindra Bhavans in all districts.{{clarify|date=December 2022}}
* ''Swarger niche mohabishrankhola'' ({{translation|Chaos under heaven}}) (2019)
 
==Published works==
* ''বিপন্ন জাহাজের এক নাবিকের গল্প''- Translated works of Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez (1994)- On February 28, 1955, a Colombian Navy ship "Caladus" was hit by a storm in the Caribbean Sea. The ship started from Mobile, a port city in the US state of Alabama. The destination was the port of Cartagena, Colombia. The ship made it safely to the port of Cartagena but only one person survived. Buddhadev Bhattacharya translated the book 'The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor'
* ‘’দুঃসময়’’ ({{translation|The Bad Times}})(1993) - Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's play deals with the bitter truth prevalent even in today's society—the communal tension between Hindus and Muslims.
* ''এই আমি মায়াকভস্কি'' (1994) - Translated works of Russian-Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky
* ''চিলিতে গোপনে''- Translated works of Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez (1996)- September 11, 1973 was a dark day in Chile's modern history. General Pinochet's military seized power in a violent coup against the left-wing government of Salvador Allende. Thousands of people were sent into exile. Attacks were concentrated on communists, socialists and leftists. Famous Chilean director Miguel Litín was exiled from the country soon after the coup. Later his name was included in the declared list of undesirable persons. Twelve years later, he entered Chile under the guise of a false identity to film his country and its people in the ravages of military rule. He narrated the harrowing story to his close friend, the renowned novelist Gabriel García Márquez. Marquez recorded the expedition in his book 'Clandestine in Chile'. Buddhadev Bhattacharya translated the book 'Clandestine in Chile'.
* ''ফিরে দেখা (প্রথম পর্ব)'' ({{translation|Looking back- first part}}) (2015)- Not an out and out reminiscence,this book is e flashback„ with some well-constructed montages of a momentous past.It propels the readers to early five years of the Left Front Government in West Bengal(1977-1982)
* ''ফিরে দেখা (দ্বিতীয় পর্ব)'' ({{translation|Looking back- second part}}) (2017)- This is a frank and concise account of the last decade (2001-2011) of the Left Front Government in West Bengal, India, by the communist leader who headed it.The author does not avoid controversial issues like the movement at Singur and Nandigram against his government while focusing on developmental goals and achievements of which he and the Left can be justly proud.
* ''নাৎসি জার্মানির জন্ম ও মৃত্যু'' ({{translation|The Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany}})- (2018) The book consists of 14 chapters excluding the preface and appendix. So that – from this Hitler to the last days of Hitler. From the Prime Minister to the Fuehrer, Russia's struggle for self-defense, the fall of Germany and Italy, the concentration camps, etc., are told.
* ''স্বর্গের নিচে মহাবিশৃঙ্খলা'' ({{translation|Chaos under heaven}}) (2019)- In this 72-page book, the former chief minister of the state has highlighted the evolution of a huge history - from the construction of the great wall of China to prevent the Mongolian invasion to the world power of the Chinese information technology company 'Alibaba' in this era of globalization.


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}


*[https://cpim.org/states/danger-fascism-buddhadeb-bhattacharya Danger of Fascism: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee]
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[[Category:Respiratory disease deaths in India]]

Latest revision as of 14:00, 4 March 2026


Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Bhattacharjee in 2006
7th Chief Minister of West Bengal
In office
6 November 2000 – 20 May 2011
Governor
Preceded byJyoti Basu
Succeeded byMamata Banerjee
3rd Deputy Chief Minister of West Bengal
In office
12 January 1999 – 5 November 2000
Chief MinisterJyoti Basu
Preceded byBijoy Singh Nahar
Succeeded byVacant
Member of Polit Bureau, Communist Party of India (Marxist)
In office
2002 – 2015
Cabinet Minister, West Bengal
Minister of Home Affairs & Police
In office
1996–2011
Minister of Information and Culture
In office
1987–2011
In office
1977–1982
Minister of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs
In office
1987–1996
Legislative offices
Member of Legislative Assembly, West Bengal
In office
1987–2011
Preceded byAshok Mitra[1]
Succeeded byManish Gupta
ConstituencyJadavpur
In office
1977–1982
Preceded byPrafulla Kanti Ghosh
Succeeded byPrafulla Kanti Ghosh
ConstituencyCossipur
Personal details
Born(1944-03-01)1 March 1944
Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died8 August 2024(2024-08-08) (aged 80)
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Cause of deathChronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Political party Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Spouse(s)Meera Bhattacharjee
RelationsSukanta Bhattacharya (uncle)
ChildrenSuchetan (Born: Suchetana) Bhattacharjee
ResidencePalm Avenue, Kolkata, India
Alma materPresidency College

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (1 March 1944 – 8 August 2024) was an Indian communist politician, statesman and a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who served as the 7th Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011. In a political career over five decades, he became one of the senior leaders of Communist Party of India (Marxist) during his regime.

Bhattacharjee described himself as a "communist compromising with capitalism" for promoting industrialization in West Bengal, but his efforts were undermined by controversies.[2] He was known for his relatively open policies regarding business, in contrast with the previous financial policies of the CPI(M), which were primarily anti-capitalist. However, he faced strong land acquisition protests and allegations about violence against the protesters. This led Bhattacharjee to lose the 2011 elections, resulting in the fall of Left Front's 34 years of rule in West Bengal.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Bhattacharjee was born in British Raj India on 1 March 1944 in Calcutta to a Bengali Brahmin family. His grandfather, Krishnachandra Smrititirtha was a Sanskrit scholar who had composed a priestly manual named Purohit Darpan, which remains popular with Bengali Hindu Bramins in West Bengal. Buddhadeb's father, Nepalchandra, did not enter into the priesthood and was involved with the family publication, Saraswat Library, devoted to selling Hindu religious material.[3] Poet Sukanta Bhattacharya was Nepalchandra's cousin. A former student of Sailendra Sircar Vidyalaya, Buddhadeb studied Bengali literature at the Presidency College, Kolkata, and secured his B.A. degree in Bengali (Honours). He then joined Adarsh Shankha Vidya Mandir school at Dum Dum as a teacher.[4][5][6]

Political career[edit | edit source]

Initial career (1966–1971)[edit | edit source]

Bhattacharjee joined the CPI(M) as a primary member in 1966. Besides taking active part in the food movement, he also supported Vietnam's cause in 1968. In 1968, he was elected as the state secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation, the youth wing of the CPI(M), that was later merged into the Democratic Youth Federation of India. He served in the position till 1981, when he was succeeded by Boren Basu. He was mentored by Promode Dasgupta.[4][5]

Recognition, election as MLA and ministership (1972–2000)[edit | edit source]

Bhattacharjee was elected to the state committee of CPI(M) in 1972 and was inducted in the state secretariat in 1982.[4][5]

From 1977 to 1982, he was elected as the MLA of Kashipur-Belgachia. Bhattacharjee served as the Minister of Information and Public Relations in the West Bengal Cabinet between 1977 and 1982.[5]

In 1982, he lost the assembly elections from Cossipur constituency in 1982 by a slender margin. He was made a permanent invitee to the central committee of CPI(M) in 1984 and was made a member in 1985.[4]

Later, in 1987, he became the MLA of Jadavpur and continued to represent the constituency till 2011. He was re-inducted in the cabinet in 1987 as the Minister of Information and Cultural Affairs. He also held departments of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs.[4][5]

He was included in the cabinet in 1991 as a minister, with the portfolios of Information and Cultural Affairs and Urban Development and Municipal Affairs. However, he abruptly resigned from his position in September 1993, following differences with then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu, regarding the functioning of the administration and the alleged issue of corruption.[7] Notably, he remarked that Basu's cabinet was a "council of thieves".[8] He returned to the cabinet a few months later.[citation needed]

Following the 1996 West Bengal election, Bhattacharjee was handed the responsibility of the home and police department, owing to the declining health of the elderly Chief Minister Basu. In 1999, he was made the Deputy Chief minister of West Bengal.

Chief Minister of West Bengal (2001–2011)[edit | edit source]

Bhattacharjee in 2001

On 6 November 2000, he was elevated to the position of Chief Minister after Basu's resignation. In 2002, he was elected to the politburo of CPI(M).[9]

Bhattacharjee was elected Chief Minister of West Bengal and was sworn in in a solemn ceremony at Raj Bhawan.[10] As Chief Minister, he led the CPI(M)-led Left Front to two successive election victories in 2001 and 2006. In 2001, the Left Front secured 199 out of 294 assembly seats and in 2006, it improved the tally to 235 out of 294 seats.[11][12]

Bhattacharjee's tenure saw major incidents of violence perpetrated by the cadres of the ruling CPI(M) like the Chhoto Angaria massacre, the Netai killings and the Dhantala case. There was also an escalation of Maoist attacks in the state, the most notable being the attack on a police camp at Silda, violence in Lalgarh and the Jnaneswari Express train derailment.[citation needed] Bhattacharya himself survived an assassination attempt by Maoists in 2008.[13]

Bhattacharjee started an industrialization drive in West Bengal to bring in more investment and jobs in the states. Under his government, West Bengal saw investments in the IT and services sector.[14] Bhattacharjee described himself as a "communist compromising with capitalism" for promoting industrialization in the state, though his efforts did not succeed to the extent he had expected due to ensuing controversies.[2]

Notable among the invited projects was that of the production of the world's cheapest car, the Tata Nano,[15] in Singur, a small town near Kolkata. Other notable proposals included the country's largest integrated steel plant in Salboni by the Jindal group. Another notable proposed project was a chemical hub at Nayachar, after it had faced resistance from farmers in Nandigram.[citation needed]

However, his plans were perceived negatively, and his party, along with its front partners, suffered heavy losses in the 2009 Indian general election. In the 2011 state assembly election, he was defeated at Jadavpur by the former Chief Secretary of his own government, and the Trinamool congress candidate Manish Gupta by 16,684 votes.[16] He became the second West Bengal Chief Minister to lose an election from his own constituency, after Prafulla Chandra Sen in 1967.[17] The Left Front saw a drubbing, securing just 62 seats out of 294. He resigned as Chief Minister on 13 May 2011.[citation needed]

Singur Tata Nano controversy and Nandigram violence[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Singur Tata Nano controversy and Nandigram violence

Events during his tenure as Chief Minister included attempts to industrialize West Bengal thwarted by the TATA's Tata Motors leaving Bengal in the face of the joint protests of the Trinamool Congress,[18] Socialist Unity Centre of India, and Indian National Congress,[19] the land acquisition dispute in Singur, the Nandigram incident,[20] and the Netai incident.[21]

In January 2006 the Supreme Court of India issued notices to Left Front Government ministers including Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and others in relation to land allotments made in the Salt Lake City township in Kolkata.[22]

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's Government came under heavy criticism for police action against demonstrators in Nandigram in East Midnapore. He was criticized not only by opposition parties (such as the Trinamool Congress, INC, PDS, BJP, CPI(ML)L, CRLI and others) and other Left Front coalition allies like CPI, RSP and AIFB, who threatened to back out from the ministry on this issue, but also by his mentor and the state's former chief minister, Jyoti Basu.

On 15 March 2007, Basu criticized Bhattacharjee for failing to restrain the police in Nandigram.[23] Bhattacharjee expressed regret for the shootings, but claimed that he permitted police action because Nandigram was an "area where there had been no rule of law and no presence of an administration for not one, two or 10 days but for two-and-a-half months, and many hundreds of villagers left Nandigram, and took shelter in a state relief camp outside Nandigram."[24] Actually Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee declared that land in Nandigram wouldn't be acquired by ordering the Nandigram notification to be torn apart.[25][26] Still police were not allowed to enter Nandigram. Roads were dug up, preventing administration from entering the area.[25]

The CPI(M) declared that they were totally behind Bhattacharjee and had drawn up "plans" to placate his critics in the Left Front.[27] His government was also criticized by Left supporters for failing to protect the Left party workers (including his own party CPI(M)) who came under assault from political opponents - both right wing and ultra-left wing Maoists during the post-Nandigram turmoil until the end of 7th Left Front Government.[citation needed]

Electoral history[edit | edit source]

Bhattacharjee was elected as Member of Legislative Assembly from Cossipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency) once and from Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency) for five consecutive terms.

Election

Year

House Constituency Party affiliation Result
1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly Cossipur Communist Party of India Won
1982 Won
1987 Jadavpur Won
1991 Won
1996 Won
2001 Won
2006 Won
2011 Lost

Later life[edit | edit source]

Despite his calls to be relieved of party responsibilities, Bhattacharjee was retained as a member of the Politburo and the Central Committee in the 20th party congress, organised at Kozhikode in 2012.[28]

He was relieved of his posts on the Polit Bureau and Central Committee at the 21st party congress, organised at Vishakhapatnam in 2015.[29] The party congress elected him as a special invitee to the Central Committee. However, he was persuaded to remain a member of the state committee and the state secretariat till 2018. In 2018, due to continuing ill-health he stepped down from the state committee and the state secretariat.[30] He was later named as a special invitee to the state committee. In 2019, he made an attempt to attend a mega-rally at Brigade Parade ground in Kolkata, however, due to breathing difficulties he could not appear on the stage and remained seated in his car.[31]

Padma Bhushan rejection[edit | edit source]

In January 2022, the Government of India awarded Bhattacharjee with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India. However, he declined the award and claimed that he had not been informed about the award. He said a call was made to his residence earlier in the day, while adding there is no provision of taking consent for giving Padma awards.[32][33][34][35][36]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Bhattacharjee was married to Meera Bhattacharjee. Together, they had a child who underwent gender surgery and is now known as Suchetan Bhattacharjee.[37] Bhattacharjee was renowned for his frugal lifestyle. He was also a scholar widely read and had acquaintance with literature of the world. Was fond of dogs and had several pets during his lifetime. Was also seen feeding and petting the stray dogs in his locality quite often. He was an inveterate music lover and quite knowledgeable about Indian classical music. He also had a quiet and quite unexpected sense of humour. The family lived in a two-room apartment in Ballygunge, Kolkata. Bhattacharjee operated as Chief Minister from the same residence.[38] Although belonging to a family of priests, Bhattacharjee was an avowed atheist, in accordance with the principles of communism.[3]

Bhattacharjee died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Kolkata, on 8 August 2024, at the age of 80.[39][40]

Works[edit | edit source]

  • Duhsomoy (transl. The Bad Times) (1993): Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's play deals with the communal tension between Hindus and Muslims in the aftermath of the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
  • Biponno jaahaajer ek nabiker golpo (1994): Translation of The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor by Gabriel García Márquez
  • Ei aami Mayakovsky (1994): Translated works of Russian-Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky
  • Chilite gopone (1996): Translation of Clandestine in Chile by Gabriel García Márquez
  • Hridayer shobdohin jyotsnar bhitor (transl. Into the Silent Moonlight of Heart (1997): Anthology of literary criticism on poetry penned by Jibanananda Das
  • Phire dekha (prothom porbo) (transl. Looking back (first part)) (2015)
  • Phire dekha (dwitiyo porbo) (transl. Looking back (second part)) (2017)
  • Nazi Germanyr jonmo o mrityu (transl. The Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany) (2018)
  • Swarger niche mohabishrankhola (transl. Chaos under heaven) (2019)

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chattopadhyay, Suhrid Sankar (8 August 2024). "Tribute | Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (1944-2024): Poet-Politician Who Dreamed of an Industrial Renaissance for West Bengal". Frontline. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "A ritual bond with Buddha". www.telegraphindia.com. 11 May 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Choudhary, Ratnadeep (1 March 2019). "Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, the last Left chief minister of West Bengal". ThePrint. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Buddhadeb Bhattacharya". Communist Party of India (Marxist). 22 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "rediff.com Profile/Buddhadeb Bhattacharya". m.rediff.com. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  7. ↑ "Buddhadev Bhattacharya makes abrupt exit from Left Front government". India Today. 30 September 1993. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "The Loneliness of Buddhadeb". 17 September 2009.
  9. ↑ "END OF AN ERA". Frontline. 10 November 2000. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Buddhadeb sworn in Bengal CM". The Tribune.
  11. ↑ Ghosh, Arunabha (2001). "West Bengal Assembly Elections, 2001: An Overview". The Indian Journal of Political Science. 62 (2): 179–187. ISSN 0019-5510. JSTOR 42753666.
  12. ↑ "West Bengal voters reward CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya for pursuing investment, goodwill". India Today. 22 May 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "Buddha, Paswan escape landmine blast". NDTV. 2 November 2008.
  14. ↑ Thakur, Pradeep (24 May 2011). "Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee steered West Bengal to 4th position in industrial growth". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "The Sunday Times". Timesonline.co.uk. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 August 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  16. ↑ "The man who beat Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for the first time in 24 years". NDTV.com. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "Buddhadeb loses from Jadavpore" Archived 4 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Yahoo! News, 13 May 2011.
  18. ↑ "WB polls: Buddha has himself to blame for Left-front's loss", India Today, 14 May 2011. [1]
  19. ↑ India, One (3 December 2006). "BJP President Rajnath to visit Singur tomorrow". Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  20. ↑ " Exit Buddhadeb, man who saw beyond ideological convictions", The Economic Times, 14 May 2011. Archived 19 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ " CPM pays for Netai, suffers losses in Junglemahal" Archived 29 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine, Indian Express, 14 May 2011.
  22. ↑ "Court notice to Jyoti Basu", The Hindu, 24 January 2006.
  23. ↑ Subir Bhaumik, "India strike over police shooting", BBC News, 16 March 2007.
  24. ↑ "Deaths in violence unfortunate, says Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee", The Hindu, 16 March 2007.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "National : Deaths in violence unfortunate, says Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee". The Hindu. 16 March 2007. Archived from the original on 25 March 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  26. ↑ "Tear apart Nandigram notification: Buddhadeb". Rxpgnews.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  27. ↑ Subrata Nagchoudhury, "Party stands by Buddha, gets restive allies to fall in line", indianexpress.com, 18 March 2007. Archived 17 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ "Buddhadeb skips CPI(M) party congress, gets elected to politburo". India Today. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  29. ↑ "Ex-West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Remains Critical". www.outlookindia.com. 31 July 2023.
  30. ↑ "Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Steps Down From CPI(M) State Committee". NDTV.com. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  31. ↑ "Buddhadeb to miss Brigade rally due to poor health". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  32. ↑ "Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refuses Padma Bhushan award". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  33. ↑ ""No One Told Me": CPM's Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Rejects Padma Bhushan". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  34. ↑ "Communist veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refuses Padma Bhushan". Hindustan Times. 25 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  35. ↑ "Padma Awards: CPM's Veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Rejects Padma Bhushan". ABP Live. 25 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  36. ↑ "Why Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refused the Padma Bhushan". India Today. 27 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  37. ↑ "Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's daughter Suchetana may undergo sex-change operation: '…as a man'". Hindustan Times. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  38. ↑ "Buddhadeb's assets: No house, no car, only Rs 5,000 in bank". The Times of India. 6 April 2011. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  39. ↑ "Former Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passes away". Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  40. ↑ "The Marxist journey of 'Brand Buddha' Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee". The Times of India. 8 August 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 August 2024.

External links[edit | edit source]

Political offices
Preceded by
Jyoti Basu 		Chief Minister of West Bengal
2000–2011 		Succeeded by
Mamata Banerjee
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