Sudhangshu Seal, a veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and former Member of Parliament, passed away on Thursday morning at a private hospital near the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in Kolkata. He was 81 and had been suffering from multiple age-related ailments for the past several months.
According to party sources, his health had deteriorated in recent days, leading to his hospitalisation. He breathed his last in the early hours of Thursday.
Who was Sudhangshu Seal?
Sudhangshu Seal had a long and active political career, beginning from his student days when he became associated with Left movements. Known for his organisational skills, he steadily rose through the ranks of the CPM.
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He served as a five-time councillor from Ward 20 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and was also a mayoral council member. In 2001, he was elected as an MLA from the Jorabagan Assembly constituency. Later, in 2004, he contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Kolkata North-West constituency and won, defeating heavyweight candidate Sudip Bandyopadhyay. Following his victory, he resigned from the Assembly to take up his role in Parliament.
Seal was among a group of prominent Left leaders elected to the Lok Sabha that year, although he was considered relatively new in parliamentary experience at the time.
Mayor candidate and internal party debates
In the 2010 Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections, the Left Front nominated Sudhangshu Seal as its mayoral candidate. However, the alliance lost to the Trinamool Congress. The decision not to appoint him as the Leader of the Opposition in the civic body later sparked internal discussions within the party.
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Widely respected as ‘Mintuda’
Popularly known as “Mintuda,” Seal was regarded as a simple and approachable leader. He was known for his clear stance on rural and grassroots issues and remained closely connected to organisational work throughout his career.
Leaders, including Biman Bose and Mohammed Salim, expressed their condolences, stating that the party has lost an experienced organiser. His mortal remains will be kept at the party office on Brindaban Street from 2 pm on Thursday for people to pay their last respects.
