WB Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty passes away

Chakraborty, 68, is survived by his wife and a son.

The senior CPI(M) leader, who was suffering from cancer and other complications, was admitted to the hospital last week. He died at 11.35 am, party sources said.

After his condition deteriorated yesterday, a large number of his supporters and admirers thronged the hospital to enquire about his health. Many of them broke down after hearing the news of his death.

Several of Chakraborty's ministerial and party colleagues, including Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Left Front chairman Biman Bose, visited him at the hospital yesterday and early today.

An emotional Bose later announced that the body would be taken to the CPI(M) offices at Barasat, Birati and Nagerbazar in North 24-Parganas district tomorrow.

The body will be kept at the morgue today. It will be taken tomorrow to his residences at Salt Lake and Dum Dum, besides his alma mater Motijheel College and the Yuvabharati Krirangan at Salt Lake. It will also be taken to the state secretariat Writers' Buildings and the CPI(M) state headquarters at Alimuddin Street.

Chakraborty had stopped responding to treatment after he was put on a ventilator.

The leader had been active even till July 23 when he chaired a meeting of transport operators ahead of an indefinite transport strike.