Jyoti Basu dies of multi-organ failure

Kolkata, Jan 17 (PTI) Jyoti Basu, who strode the
political arena like a colossus for over six decades, died
here Sunday of multi-organ failure after being struck by
pneumonia 17 days ago.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose, who together with
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee rushed to the hospital,
broke down while announcing "I have a sad announcement to
make. Jyoti Basu is no more with us."
Basu's personal physician Dr Ajit Kumar Maity said
that he breathed his last at 11:47 am (IST) at the AMRI
Hospital where he was admitted with pneumonia on January one.
The former West Bengal Chief Minister was 95 and is
survived by son Chandan. His wife Kamal pre-deceased him four
years ago.
Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram, who was in the
city rushed to the hospital, and said "We have just learnt
that Jyoti Basu, formally known as Jyoti Babu, has passed
away.
"He strode like a colossus on the Indian political
scene for several decades. He was a great patriot, a great
democrat. He lived a full life," Chidambaram said.
"For the last fortnight, he suffered a lot. The West
Bengal government has provided him with the best medical care
in the country. We are deeply sad at his passing away.I offer
my sincere condolence to his family and the people of West
Bengal.
A political legend, Basu became the longest serving
chief minister of West Bengal for 23 years from 1997 at the
head of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-headed Left
Front government. MORE PTI