Prasanta Sur dies after long illness

Kolkata, Feb 29 (UNI) Former West Bengal Left front Minister and Kolkata Mayor Prasanta Sur died at a city hospital early today after protracted illness. He was 85.

He is survived by a son.

Former state health minister Prasanta Sur was admitted to SSKM Hospital on Monday after his blood sugar level dropped sharply. He died today at 3.55 A.M.

Sur, a CPM state committee member, became the state urban development minister in the first Left Front government in 1977.

Later he took charge of the Health and refugee and rehabilitation departments in the subsequent Left Front governments.

He was the convenor of the Kolkata district Left Front committee and became the first Left Front Mayor of the city in 1967.

Former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee and CPM state Secretary Biman Bose condoled Sur's death.

Party sources said the body was being taken to the CPM headquarters at Alimuddin Street, where it will be kept for people to show their last respect to the departed leader.

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