Kolkata, Aug 06 (UNI) Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and former West Bengal Transport Minister Shyamal Chakraborty passed away on Thursday afternoon.
He was 76 and is survived by his actress daughter Ushasie Chakraborty.
He had tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata since July 30.
Expressing her profound sorrow, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "Saddened at the passing away of veteran leader, former Member of Parliament and former Bengal minister Shyamal Chakraborty. "
"My condolences to his family, friends and supporters, " she added.
The CPI(M) tweeted condolences on the demise of Shyamal Chakraborty, saying, "We express deep sadness at demise of Comrade Shyamal Chakraborty. He was a veteran TU leader, former minister & Central Committee member of the CPI(M)."
"Today the working class and the left movement in the country has lost an important voice. We dip our flags in his memory," the party added.
CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty said his passing away will create a huge void in the Left politics in the state.
" He was a stalwart Left leader who shouldered important responsibilities in the trade union movement. It is a matter of great loss for the party. This is end of an era. Today he passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest," he added.
Chakraborty, the three-time state transport minister from 1982 to 1996, joined the student movement in the early 1960s and was elected General Secretary of the student’s union at the Vidyasagar College, Kolkata.
He joined the undivided Communist Party in 1960. He was elected to the West Bengal Legislative assembly for the first time in 1981 and later on for three more terms.
He served as Minister for Transport for nine years.
He was also elected to the Rajya Sabha for a term.
Shyamal Chakraborty was associated with various unions of workers.
The veteran leader discharged responsibilities in the Centre of Indian Trade Unions in various capacities including serving as the President of its West Bengal unit.
He was elected to the state Committee of the Party in 1978 and the Central Committee in 2002.
He was jailed for a period of a year and stayed underground for six months.
UNI PC-SJC AND