By Ranjan Bhaduri
Jan 6, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The news of CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu’s death is doing the rounds in major web sites and it has made the public speculate about the veteran leader’s present health condition. He was admitted to AMRI Hospital in Kolkata after being diagnosed with Pneumonia.

Earlier, his condition was said to be critical and the leader was put on ventilator support. The news channels said that the doctors put him in ICU and were monitoring his condition throughout. It was around 1.30 p.m. that the rumor of his death started spreading across media and political circles. However, the Communist Party of India- Marxist has not yet made any formal announcement about his death. The hospital authorities have not released any statement likewise. The confirmation of his death is supposed to be made in the later part of the evening.

The 95 year old CPM veteran had not been doing well for some time. The former CM of West Bengal was administered an antibiotic followed by an unit of blood. The hospital’s medical superintendent Debasish Sharma said in his last statement that the condition of the former CM was very serious. However, even a day ago- the news papers and media outlets reported that he was stable. This news was affirmed by Joykrishna Ghosh, his aide. The situation changed drastically on Wednesday and he had to be shifted to ICU. Six doctors kept him under observation till he reportedly died.

The major media outlets have confirmed his death though his party is yet to announce it. It has also been reported that the party leaders are heading towards AMRI Hospital, where he allegedly passed away.