Jyoti Basu-The former West Bengal CM died today17 Jan, 2010, Kolkota, India

Jyoti Basu, the former CM of west Bengal who strode the political landscape of nation like a colossus passed away on Sunday afternoon in Kolkata hospital. Basu had missed to be the prime minister in year 1996 due to the CPM’s ideological rigidity that was in charge of West Bengal for a record 23 years and, in the whole process he became the longest-serving chief minister of any state.
Shortly after his death announcement, Basu’s body was first taken to son Chainman’s Salt Lake residence from the hospital. Then it was taken to a private mortuary, Peace Haven, where it will be kept till Tuesday so that the national and international political leaders’ common people and CPIM supporters can pay their final homage to the departed communist legend.

Along with his senior colleagues EMS Namboodiripad and HS Surjeet, basu scripted his party’s political pragmatism in year 1989 and later 1996 by aiding the formation of two non-Congress coalitions at the Centre. In 2004, Basu played a key role in getting the CPM and other Left parties back a government led by the Congress at the Centre. In four years of roller coaster association with the CPM, the Congress used to look up to Basu to straighten things up.