Veteran Marxist leader and former Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu died in Kolkata yesterday. 96-year-old Basu breathed his last at 11.47 am at the AMRI Hospital where he was admitted with pneumonia on the 1st of January. He had been ailing for the last two years. But his health 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. <br/><br/>Mr. Basu strode the political arena for over six decades and was a leading figure in uniting opposition parties against the Congress in the 80s and 90s. He had stepped down as West Bengal Chief Minister in November 2000 after 23-year tenure. He holds the record of being the longest-serving Chief Minister in the country. <br/><br/>Thousands of mourners thronged the roads as Basu's body was taken to Peace Haven, a private funeral parlour, where it has been kept for people to pay homage till today. His last journey will begin from there on Tuesday. After visiting several places, it will be handed over to the S. S. K. M. hospital authority in Kolkata for medical research. His eyes, which he had donated, were removed by doctors of an eye hospital.<br/><br/>West Bengal Government has decided to observe two-day state mourning from Monday. State Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said that national flag will fly half mast during the period in the state. State government offices and colleges will remain closed today as mark of respect to the departed soul. <br/><br/>Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead a delegation of her country to pay last respect to Basu.<br/> <br/><br/>