Marxist legend and one of the tallest leaders of the Communist movement in India, Jyoti Basu, died on Sunday losing his fortnight-long battle to pneumonia that led to complications and multi-organ failure.<br/><br/>96-year-old Basu, who held the record of being the longest-serving Chief Minister in the country, breathed his last at 11:47 am at the AMRI Hospital where he was admitted with pneumonia on 1st January. The Communist veteran, who had stepped down as West Bengal Chief Minister in November 2000 after a 23-year tenure, had been in and out of hospital since two years. His health had deteriorated in the last few days when he developed a multi-organ failure. He was put on pace-maker and haemo-dialysis but he could never recover from the setback.<br/><br/>Thousands of mourners thronged the roads as Basu's body was taken to Peace Haven, a private funeral parlour, where it will be kept till Monday to pay homage. The last journey will begin from there on 19th and later after visiting several places, it will be handed over to the S. S. K. M. hospital authority Tuesday for medical research. <br/><br/>The Chief Secretary of West Bengal told in a press conference that the state government has announced a holiday on Monday to show respects to Jyoti Basu. All the government offices and educational institutions will remain closed on Monday.<br/><br/>Meanwhile the President, Vice President, the Prime Minister and leaders across the political spectrum have condoled the death of the CPIM patriarch and former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu. In her message, the President Mrs Pratibha Devisingh Patil described Basu as an able administrator and an eminent statesman and said even after he had relinquished Chief Ministership, Jyoti Basu continued to be looked upon as an elderly statesman, whose advice was sought by many political leaders.<br/><br/> The Vice President, Mohammed Hamid Ansari said Jyoti Basu’s segacity and leadership at both the state and central level have been a source of inspiration and guidance and his demise leaves a void which will be difficult to fill.<br/><br/> The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, said the death of Jyoti Basu marks the end of an era in the annals of Indian politics. Describing him as a man of great integrity and deep commitment to secular values, the Prime Minister said that Jyoti Basu was a powerful regional voice in the national political scene to strengthen Indian federalism. The UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi said that Jyoti Basu was a tireless crusader against communalism, fundamentalism and casteism and a warrior for social justice. She said that the CPIM leader was a towering figure whose noble vision, superb judgement and depth of experience was greatly valued by all.<br/><br/>The Finance Minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee said that Basu was a charismatic political leader and had a towering personality. <br/><br/>Home Minister P Chidambaram said, Basu strode like a colossus on the Indian political scene for several decades. He was a great patriot, a great democrat and a great source of inspiration. Veteran BJP leader and former Prime Minister, Mr. A B Vajpayee, in his message, said that Jyoti Basu was an able administrator who was committed to his ideology. The CPIM said that West Bengal has become an oasis of communal harmony and secular values under the leadership of Jyoti Basu. Party leader Sitaram Yechury said Jyoti Basu’s precious legacy is there for all of them to cherish.<br/><br/> CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said an era has passed with the death of Marxist Jyoti Basu and that no one can replace him. West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadab Bhattacharjee has said, the country has lost a great and front ranking leader. He said, Basu was a guardian of them.