The final journey of Comrade Swadesh Bhattacharya, Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, founding editor of the Party’s central weekly bulletin, ML Update, and one of its founding leaders, began today from MLA Flat 213 and proceeded to Bans Ghat cremation in Patna, on 02 November 2026, where he was bid a final farewell. Thousands of people from different districts of Bihar and various states across the country joined the procession and paid their heartfelt tributes to the departed leader.
The final procession was attended by CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Karakat MP Raja Ram Singh, Ara MP Sudama Prasad and members of the Party's Central Committee. Party leaders and activists from Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karbi Anglong, Karnataka and across Bihar also joined the procession to pay their tributes to Comrade Swadesh Bhattacharya.
Addressing the gathering, General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya recalled Comrade Swadesh's struggles and his life's journey. He said that Swadeshji had devoted all his energy to building and expanding the Party for over five decades. Despite the political and organisational ups and downs, the Party had maintained its stability, continuity and consistency, and Comrade Shambhuji was a symbol of this enduring journey. He continuously worked to organise and strengthen the Party and the movement.
Across the country, CPI(ML) offices lowered the Party flag to half-mast in honour of Comrade Shambhuji and his lifelong contributions. Condolence and tribute programmes were held at Party offices at the state, district and block levels, where Party members and activists across the ranks paid homage to the departed leader. These tributes reflected the deep affection and respect he commanded among generations of comrades. His entire life was dedicated to the people, the Party and their struggles.
Messages of condolence poured in from communist parties, popular organisations and well-wishers across South Asia and around the world, paying heartfelt tributes to Comrade Swadesh Bhattacharya and honouring his lifelong contributions to the communist movement.
Comrade Swadesh Bhattacharya, fondly known as Shambhuji, breathed his last at 11.15 pm on 30 October 2026 at Ruban Memorial Hospital in Patna, where he had been undergoing treatment for cancer for a prolonged period. He was 84.
