Shawdesh Desk:

Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was on Monday admitted to a hospital in Kolkata.

Bhattacharjee was admitted to the ICU of Woodlands Hospital in Kolkata after he complained of difficulty in breathing and other issues. Bhattacharjee suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Bhattacharjee’s oxygen saturation level was below 70. He has been tested for COVID-19 and the result is awaited. Doctors are expected to conduct a CT scan.

Top leaders of the CPI(M) from West Bengal, Kerala and Delhi, including Sitaram Yechury and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, have inquired about Bhattacharjee’s health.

Bhattacharjee (76) was hospitalised in September last year after his blood haemoglobin and blood pressure plummeted and he had difficulty in breathing. Then, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had visited Bhattacharjee prior to him being hospitalised.

Bhattacharjee was chief minister of West Bengal for two successive terms, succeeding the legendary Jyoti Basu. He was credited with attempting to improve investment and industrialisation in West Bengal. But the aggressive wooing of industry fanned discontent that led to the end of 34 years of rule by the CPI(M)-led Left Front in 2011.