Gurudas Dasgupta, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI,) passed away on the 31st of October in Kolkata.
Gurudas Dasgupta, 83 years old, was suffering from prolonged lung cancer and took his last breath at 6:00 A.M.
Swapan Banerjee, the CPI Secretary in West Bengal, said, “He (Dasgupta) passed away at his home in Kolkata at 6 A.M. He was suffering from lung cancer for quite some time. Due to his poor health, he had relinquished party posts, though he continued to be a member of the national executive council of the CPI.”
Dasgupta entered politics as a student leader in the early ’50s and ’60s. He later joined the CPI as its member.
In 1964, after the CPI was divided and gave birth to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI[M],) Mr. Dasgupta decided to stay with the CPI. He was also a part of the labour wing of the CPI and worked for labourers’ welfare.
He was also a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1985, 1988 and 1994. Later, in 2004 and 2009, he contested the Lok Sabha elections and was elected as the Member of Parliament of Panskura (2004) and Ghatal (2009) constituencies in West Bengal.
The year 2009 was the last one in which Dasgupta was elected. In the 2014 elections, due to his health condition, he chose to stay away from active politics.
Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, expressed grief about Gurudas Dasgupta’s demise and said, “Saddened at the passing away of CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta ji. He will be remembered for his contribution to the nation as a Parliamentarian and trade union leader. Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.”
K. Chandrashekar Rao, the Chief Minister of Telangana, also condoled the death of Gurudas Dasgupta.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and extended his condolences to the family of Gurudas Dasgupta.
Gurudas Dasgupta is survived by his wife and his daughter.
Gurudas Dasgupta’s last rites are expected to be held on the 31st of October in Kolkata.
Stay tuned for further updates.
