Kolkata, Oct 31 :Veteran CPI leader and former MP Gurudas Dasgupta died on Thursday following a prolonged illness, party sources said.

He was 83.

Dasgupta is survived by his wife and daughter.

He was suffering from lung cancer for the last several months, West Bengal CPI secretary Swapan Banerjee said.

“He (Dasgupta) passed away at his home in Kolkata at 6 am. He was suffering from lung cancer for quite some time. Due to his poor health, he had relinquished party posts though he continued to be a member of CPI national executive council,” Banerjee said.

Dasgupta, known for his oratory skills, was a veteran trade union leader of AITUC.

He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1985. He was also elected to the Lok Sabha from Panskura and Ghatal constituencies of West Bengal in 2004 and 2009 respectively.

PTI