Veteran communist leader Basudeb Acharia died on Monday at the age of 82 in Hyderabad where he lived with his son. Acharia was suffering from old-age-related illnesses and passed away at a private hospital.

He was born on July 11, 1942, in Purulia. Acharia was involved in politics from his student life. He was one of the faces of the rural tribal society movement and campaign.

Informing about the death of Acharya, CPI(M) West Bengal state committee secretary Md Selim said, “Veteran parliamentarian and Trade Union leader Com. Basudeb Acharia has breathed his last in Hyderabad this afternoon.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to X and wrote, “Saddened at the demise of the veteran Left leader and former MP Basudeb Acharia. He was a trade union leader and Parliamentarian of formidable strength and his departure will cause significant loss in public life. Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Acharia was a member of the Central Committee of the CPI(M). He was elected to the Lok Sabha nine times from the Bankura constituency from 1980 to 2014. In 2014, he was defeated by Trinamool Congress candidate Munmun Sen in Bankura constituency.

From an early age, Acharia was involved in the workers movement. He organised workers in various trade unions. He was also the president of the West Bengal Railway Contractor Labour Union, LIC Agent organization of India, DVC Contractor Workers’ Union and others.

He was a member of the General Council and the Working Committee of the CITU. He had served a number of Parliamentary committees and was in the Railways standing committee for 25 years.