Gurudas Dasgupta, Veteran CPI Leader And Ex-MP, Dies At 83

Gurudas Dasgupta, veteran CPI leader and former parliamentarian, died on Thursday. He was 83. Dasgupta is survived by his wife and daughter. According to West Bengal CPI secretary Swapan Banerjee, Dasgupta was suffering from lung cancer for last several months. "He (Dasgupta) passed away at his home in Kolkata at 6 am. He was suffering from lung cancer for quite some time. Due to his poor health he had relinquished party posts but was a member of CPI national executive council," Banerjee said. Dasgupta, known for his oratory skills, was a veteran trade union leader of AITUC. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1985. He was also a member of the Lok Sabha from Panskura in 2004 and Ghatal in 2009. Several leaders expressed their grief on social media.

“Passing away of veteran leader and trade unionist Gurudas Dasgupta is a big loss for the nation. He will always be remembered for his brilliant parliamentary track record and probity in public life,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said. CPM leader “Mourn the saddened demise of Comrade Gurudas Dasgupta. A Communist by practice, a hardcore trade unionist, an able parliamentarian, a crusader by nature & an orator of quality. My tribute. Red salute Gurudasda,” he tweeted.

Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray also paid his tributes. “A 5-time member of Parliament (both LS and RS), Gurudas Dasgupta whom I knew for five decades as a trade unionist and a pro-people political leader died in Kolkata this morning. Deepest Homage to the departed humanist,” he said. Condoling his death, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Dasgupta will be remembered for his contribution to the nation as a Parliamentarian and trade union leader.