Former Bengal CM Buddhadeb hospitalised

Bhattacharjee was chief minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011. He suffers from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Desease (COPD). Enhanced levels of nebulisation and BiPap support failed to relieve him of his distress and doctors advised immediate hospitalisation. His oxygen level in blood dipped to 70 per cent when doctors advised to shift him to hospital, sources said.

Later in the day, Governor C V Ananda Bose visited the hospital. After meeting doctors, he said, “We are deeply concerned and pained by Budddadeb Bhattacharjee’s hospitalisation but we are hoping that he will get well soon. Bhattacharjee is a great leader who led the state for a long time. He is greatly respected for his statesmanship and his contributions to the state. We pray for his speedy recovery.”

CPI(M) state secretary Md Selim said, “He was continuously monitored at his residence. But doctor advised that he be shifted to hospital and thus, we arranged that. We are hopeful that he will recover soon.”

In a statement, the hospital authorities said, “Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, 79, was admitted to Woodlands Hospital on July 29, 2023, with lower respiratory tract infection and Type Il respiratory failure.

Bhattacharjee has been put on non-invasive ventilation, antibiotics, and other supportive management. Necessary investigations have been done and the reports are awaited. He is haemodynamically stable.”

According to sources, as of Saturday evening, Bhattacharjee was being administered CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) support to ease his respiratory distress and to which he showed initial positive response.

His wife Mira Bhattacharjee and daughter Suchetana Bhattacharya both are in the hospital.

Bhattacharjee has been away from public life for the past few years due to his health.

He had stepped down from the CPI(M)’s politburo and the central committee in 2015 and gave up membership of the state secretariat in 2018.