https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Buddhadeb_BhattacharjeeBuddhadeb Bhattacharjee - Revision history2026-07-30T10:28:53ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Buddhadeb_Bhattacharjee&diff=445870&oldid=prevTaj25O2937005 at 08:30, 4 March 20262026-03-04T08:30:54Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| name = Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee<br />
| image = File:Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in 2006.jpg<br />
| caption = Bhattacharjee in 2006<br />
| order1 = 7th<br />
| office1 = Chief Minister of West Bengal<br />
| governor1 = {{Collapsible list|[[Viren J. Shah]]<br />[[Gopalkrishna Gandhi]]<br />[[Devanand Konwar]] ''(acting)''<br />[[M. K. Narayanan]]}}<br />
| predecessor1 = [[Jyoti Basu]]<br />
| successor1 = [[Mamata Banerjee]]<br />
| term_start1 = 6 November 2000<br />
| term_end1 = 20 May 2011<br />
| office2 = 3rd [[List of deputy chief ministers of West Bengal|Deputy Chief Minister of West Bengal]]<br />
| 1blankname2 = Chief Minister<br />
| 1namedata2 = [[Jyoti Basu]]<br />
| term_start2 = 12 January 1999<br />
| term_end2 = 5 November 2000<br />
| predecessor2 = [[Bijoy Singh Nahar]]<br />
| successor2 = ''Vacant''<br />
| office9 = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]<br />
| term_start9 = 2002<br />
| term_end9 = 2015<br />
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Cabinet Minister, West Bengal<br />
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed = yes<br />
| office3 = Minister of Home Affairs & Police <br />
| term_start3 = 1996<br />
| term_end3 = 2011<br />
| office4 = Minister of Information and Culture<br />
| term_start4 = 1987<br />
| term_end4 = 2011<br />
| term_start5 = 1977<br />
| term_end5 = 1982<br />
| office6 = Minister of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs<br />
| term_start6 = 1987<br />
| term_end6 = 1996<br />
}}{{Collapsed infobox section end}}<br />
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Legislative offices<br />
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed = yes <br />
| office7 = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]], [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly|West Bengal]]<br />
| term_start8 = 1977<br />
| term_end8 = 1982<br />
| constituency8 = [[Cossipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Cossipur]]<br />
| predecessor8 = Prafulla Kanti Ghosh<br />
| successor8 = Prafulla Kanti Ghosh<br />
| constituency7 = [[Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jadavpur]]<br />
| term_start7 = 1987<br />
| term_end7 = 2011<br />
| predecessor7 = [[Ashok Mitra]]<ref>[[Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)]]</ref><br />
| successor7 = [[Manish Gupta (politician)|Manish Gupta]]<br />
}}{{Collapsed infobox section end}}<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|1944|3|1|df=y}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|8|8|1944|3|1|df=y}}<br />
| death_place = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], India<br />
| death_cause = [[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]] <br />
| residence = Palm Avenue, Kolkata, India<br />
| alma_mater = [[Presidency University, Kolkata|Presidency College]]<br />
| relations = [[Sukanta Bhattacharya]] (uncle)<br />
| party = [[Image:CPI-M-flag.svg|18px]] [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]<br />
| spouse = Meera Bhattacharjee<br />
| children = Suchetan (Born: Suchetana) Bhattacharjee<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
== Early life ==<br />
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><br />
<br />
== Political career ==<br />
<br />
=== Initial career (1966–1971) ===<br />
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" /><br />
<br />
=== Recognition, election as MLA and ministership (1972–2000) ===<br />
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" /><br />
<br />
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" /><br />
<br />
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" /><br />
<br />
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" /><br />
<br />
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}}<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
=== Chief Minister of West Bengal (2001–2011) ===<br />
[[File:BuddhadebBabu.jpg|thumb|Bhattacharjee in 2001]]<br />
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><br />
<br />
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><br />
<br />
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><br />
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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><br />
<br />
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}}<br />
<br />
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}}<br />
<br />
== Singur Tata Nano controversy and Nandigram violence ==<br />
{{Main|Singur Tata Nano controversy|Nandigram violence}}<br />
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><br />
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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><br />
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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]].<br />
<br />
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"/><br />
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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}}<br />
<br />
== Electoral history ==<br />
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.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
!Election<br />
Year<br />
!House<br />
!Constituency<br />
!colspan="2"|Party affiliation<br />
! Result<br />
|-<br />
| [[1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1977]]<br />
|rowspan="8"|[[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]<br />
|rowspan="2"|[[Cossipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Cossipur]]<br />
|{{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)|rowspan=8}}<br />
| {{Won}}<br />
|-<br />
| [[1982 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1982]]<br />
|{{Won}}<br />
|-<br />
|[[1987 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1987]]<br />
|rowspan="6"|[[Jadavpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jadavpur]]<br />
|{{Won}}<br />
|-<br />
| [[1991 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1991]]<br />
|{{Won}}<br />
|-<br />
| [[1996 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1996]]<br />
|{{Won}}<br />
|-<br />
| [[2001 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2001]]<br />
|{{Won}}<br />
|-<br />
| [[2006 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2006]]<br />
|{{Won}}<br />
|-<br />
| [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2011]]<br />
|{{Lost}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Later life ==<br />
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><br />
<br />
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><br />
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===Padma Bhushan rejection===<br />
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><br />
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== Personal life ==<br />
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/><br />
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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><br />
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==Works==<br />
* ''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]].<br />
* ''Biponno jaahaajer ek nabiker golpo'' (1994): Translation of ''[[The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor]]'' by [[Gabriel García Márquez]] <br />
* ''Ei aami Mayakovsky'' (1994): Translated works of Russian-Soviet poet [[Vladimir Mayakovsky]]<br />
* ''Chilite gopone'' (1996): Translation of ''[[Clandestine in Chile]]'' by Gabriel García Márquez<br />
* ''Hridayer shobdohin jyotsnar bhitor'' ({{translation|''Into the Silent Moonlight of Heart''}} (1997): Anthology of literary criticism on poetry penned by [[Jibanananda Das]]<br />
* ''Phire dekha (prothom porbo)'' ({{translation|''Looking back (first part)''}}) (2015)<br />
* ''Phire dekha (dwitiyo porbo)'' ({{translation|''Looking back (second part)''}}) (2017)<br />
* ''Nazi Germanyr jonmo o mrityu'' ({{translation|''The Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany''}}) (2018)<br />
* ''Swarger niche mohabishrankhola'' ({{translation|Chaos under heaven}}) (2019)<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
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{{Chief Ministers of West Bengal}}<br />
{{Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhattacharjee, Buddhadeb}}<br />
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[[Category:Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee| ]]<br />
[[Category:1944 births]]<br />
[[Category:2024 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century atheists]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century atheists]]<br />
[[Category:Chief ministers from Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]<br />
[[Category:Chief ministers of West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from West Bengal]]<br />
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[[Category:Indian anti-capitalists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian atheists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian communists]]<br />
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[[Category:Politicians from Kolkata]]<br />
[[Category:Presidency University, Kolkata alumni]]<br />
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]<br />
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 1977–1982]]<br />
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 1987–1991]]<br />
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[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 2001–2006]]<br />
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 2006–2011]]<br />
[[Category:Respiratory disease deaths in India]]</div>Taj25O2937005