The veteran CPIM leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu died in Kolkata on Sunday morning after prolonged illness. He was 96. Mr. Basu breath his last at 11.47 a.m. He was admitted in a private hospital in Kolkata on 1st of this month following attack of pneomonia. AIR Kolkata correspondent Arijit Chakraborty reports that the Union Minister P. Chidambaram, West Begal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya, State Left Front Chairman Biman Basu and number of Ministers of the Left Front Government were at the hospital . A Large number of party workers and well wishers of Jyoti Basu reached the hospital.<br/><br/>The President has condoled the death of the veteran CPIM leader Jyoti Basu. In her message, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil said Mr Basu has earned the unique distinction of being the longest serving Chief Minister of any state. The President said during his political career, he displayed his abilities as a leader of the people and an able administrator and eminent statesman. In his passing away, the nation has lost a veteran and an eminent public figure. <br/><br/>Describing Jyoti Basu as a powerful regional voice in the national political scene, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said his demise marked the end of an era in the annals of Indian politics.<br/><br/>In his condolence message, Dr. Singh said he was a man of great integrity with a deep commitment to secular values. Primie Minister said he was "a powerful regional voice in the national political scene and helped to strengthen Indian federalism."<br/><br/>Dr. Singh said, he had turned to the veteran Marxist leader on many occasions for his advice on important issues and the response was always pragmatic.<br/><br/>Vice-President Mohammed Hamid Ansari has deeply condoled the death of veteran CPIM leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu. Mr Ansari said Mr Basu made significant contributions to public and specially to the development of West Bengal. His sagacity and leadership at both the state and national levels have been a source of inspiration and guidance. The Vice-President said that Mr. Basu's demise leaves a void which will be very difficult to fill.<br/><br/>Assam Chief Minister Mr. Tarun Gogoi has also condoled the death of the veteran CPI (M) leader and former Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu. In a condolence message, the Chief Minister said the country has lost a veteran politician and a great patriot. Mr. Gogoi deeply remembered the late Communist leader’s immense contribution towards the down-trodden as well as nation-building activities. The State unit CPI(M) also condoled the death of the Veteran leader Jyoti Basu.<br/><br/>Biography<br/><br/>Jyoti Basu was born on July 8, 1914 at Harrish Road in Kolkata. He graduated with honours from the Arts Faculty of the Presidency College in 1935. He went to UK to study law. Returning to India, he started practicing law.Basu became the opposition leader in 1957 in West Bengal Legislative Assembly. In 1977, the first Left Front Government was founded in West Bengal and Basu became the Chief Minister and remained the Chief Minister till 2000.<br/><br/>His government is credited with restoring political stability to West Bengal after it was wrecked by a Maoist insurgency in the 1970's. He made land reforms, which provided land to more than one million sharecroppers. The government improved West Bengal's agricultural and fishery production.<br/><br/>The C.P.I. (M.) voted against a proposal in 1996 to allow Basu to lead a national coalition government in the Centre. Basu described the decision as a 'historic blunder'.