West Bengal’s Left political circle was plunged into grief on Thursday after veteran CPI(M) leader and former MP Sudhanshu Sil passed away in Kolkata following prolonged illness. A familiar face in Bengal’s Left movement for decades, Sil’s death has triggered an outpouring of tributes from senior party leaders, including Left Front chairman Biman Bose and CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim, who remembered him as a committed political worker and long-time comrade.
According to party sources, Sudhanshu Sil breathed his last early Thursday morning at a private hospital in Kolkata, where he had been undergoing treatment for age-related health complications. He was 81 years old.
The veteran Left leader had reportedly been battling multiple health issues for a long time, and his condition deteriorated in recent weeks, leading to his hospitalisation.
Sil played a significant role in Bengal’s Left politics during the peak years of the Left Front government. Between 2004 and 2009, he served as the Member of Parliament from the Kolkata North-West Lok Sabha constituency. Before entering Parliament, he was elected as an MLA from the Jorabagan Assembly constituency and served in the state Assembly from 2001 to 2004.
Apart from his legislative roles, Sudhanshu Sil also held administrative responsibilities within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and worked as a member of the Mayor-in-Council, contributing to civic governance during the Left Front era.
In 2010, the CPI(M) projected him as its mayoral face during the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections. However, the Left suffered a massive political setback amid the rising Trinamool Congress wave sweeping across West Bengal at the time. Following the electoral defeat, Sil gradually stepped away from active frontline politics.
Senior Left leaders paid heartfelt tributes after news of his death emerged. In a statement, Biman Bose and Mohammed Salim expressed deep sorrow, describing Sil as a dedicated organiser who remained committed to Left ideology throughout his political journey.
The CPI(M) also announced that Sudhanshu Sil’s mortal remains would be kept at the party office on Brindaban Basak Street from 2 PM onwards on Thursday to allow party workers, supporters and admirers to pay their last respects.
Political observers noted that Sil belonged to a generation of Left leaders who shaped Kolkata’s political and civic landscape during the dominance of the Left Front in West Bengal. His passing marks the end of another chapter in Bengal’s old-guard communist leadership.
As condolences continue to pour in from across political circles, many within the Left camp are remembering Sudhanshu Sil not only as an experienced parliamentarian and legislator, but also as a disciplined grassroots leader deeply connected to party organisation and public life.
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