Indian communist leader Basu dead

Jyoti Basu, a veteran Indian Marxist leader who was active in domestic politics for over six decades, died in eastern Kolkata city Sunday after a prolonged illness. Basu, 95, was the chief minister of eastern West Bengal state for 23 years from 1977.

Basu was admitted to the hospital on January 1 following a severe chest infection. Doctors said he was being treated for pneumonia.

Basu's condition deteriorated on Thursday and he suffered a multi-organ failure the following day. He was put on a temporary pacemaker early Sunday.

Communist leaders called Basu's death as a "big loss to the communist movement" in India.

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Jyoti Basu in critical state

CPI-M veteran leader Jyoti Basu is in a critical state.Basu has contracted a bacterial infection, which could threaten his life further as it is resistant to all but three of the 40 antibiotics used in the country.

The acinetobacter bacteria poses a graver danger as Basu’s immunity levels are low at his advanced age of 96 years and could lead to septicemia, an infection of the blood, said pathologists who did not want to be named.

Basu, who was admitted to the AMRI Hospital here with pneumonia on January 1, seems to have caught the infection in the hospital, where his condition is still “very critical”.

“Basu is likely to have acquired the infection in the hospital. He had no such bacterial attack at his residence,” said a senior member of the medical team treating the former chief minister.

Pulmonologist Dr Sumit Sengupta, who is part of the eight-member team of specialists treating Basu, said, “The bacteria could also result from application of broad spectrum antibiotics that have been used on the 96-year-old leader since his admission.”

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