KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress MLA Tamonash Ghosh succumbed to Covid-19 at a private hospital here on Wednesday morning, becoming the first state legislative assembly member and prominent public representative in Bengal to die of the disease.
The 64-year-old Falta MLA had tested positive around two weeks ago and was admitted to hospital where his condition kept deteriorating, eventually leading to multi-organ failure; he was also on ventilation. Ghosh is survived by his wife and two daughters, all three of whom have recovered after contracting the virus.
CM Mamata Banerjee tweeted her condolences, recalling Ghosh’s contribution to the Trinamool since its birth in 1998 and their 35-year-old association: “Very, very sad. Tamonash Ghosh, three-time MLA from Falta and party treasurer since 1998, had to leave us today. Been with us for over 35 years, he was dedicated to the cause of the people and the party. He contributed much through his social work,” she said.
Ghosh, who had diabetes, developed severe respiratory distress soon after being admitted to Apollo Gleneagles. “He had to be put on ventilation but kept deteriorating, which finally res-ulted in multi-organ failure,” a doctor said.
The death, doctors said, highlighted the risk that people with “public-facing jobs” were exposed to. Ghosh, besides being an MLA, was also the South Bengal State Transport Corporation chairman and had to travel extensively. He had visited Durgapur just before he fell ill and tested positive. CM Banerjee last week stated in a press conference that Ghosh was in a critical state. State urban development minister Firhad Hakim later said Ghosh was suffering from multiple ailments.
Several other prominent Bengal politicians, too, have contracted the virus. Siliguri MLA and Silguri Municipal Corporation board of administrators chairman Asok Bhattacharya tested positive in a repeat test on Tuesday. State fire and emergency services minister Sujit Bose, who tested positive on May 28 and was admitted to a private hospital in the city after developing fever and mild breathing trouble, returned home on June 12 after he testing negative twice. Trinamool Congress Panihati MLA and assembly chief whip Nirmal Ghosh was admitted to hospital last Friday and tested positive for Covid-19 though he was asymptomatic.
The Falta MLA, a resident of Kalighat, was elected to the assembly for the first time in 2001. He lost the 2006 election but won again in 2011 and 2016. “He always stood by people and helped them. We are in a state of shock,” the three-time MLA’s elder daughter, Pooja Ghosh, said. “I never imagined we would lose him to Covid-19,” she added.
Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankar, too, tweeted his condolence: “He was an experienced leader with a promising prospect. Heartfelt condolences to his wife, two daughters, friends and well-wishers,” he tweeted.
The 64-year-old Falta MLA had tested positive around two weeks ago and was admitted to hospital where his condition kept deteriorating, eventually leading to multi-organ failure; he was also on ventilation. Ghosh is survived by his wife and two daughters, all three of whom have recovered after contracting the virus.
CM Mamata Banerjee tweeted her condolences, recalling Ghosh’s contribution to the Trinamool since its birth in 1998 and their 35-year-old association: “Very, very sad. Tamonash Ghosh, three-time MLA from Falta and party treasurer since 1998, had to leave us today. Been with us for over 35 years, he was dedicated to the cause of the people and the party. He contributed much through his social work,” she said.
Ghosh, who had diabetes, developed severe respiratory distress soon after being admitted to Apollo Gleneagles. “He had to be put on ventilation but kept deteriorating, which finally res-ulted in multi-organ failure,” a doctor said.
The death, doctors said, highlighted the risk that people with “public-facing jobs” were exposed to. Ghosh, besides being an MLA, was also the South Bengal State Transport Corporation chairman and had to travel extensively. He had visited Durgapur just before he fell ill and tested positive. CM Banerjee last week stated in a press conference that Ghosh was in a critical state. State urban development minister Firhad Hakim later said Ghosh was suffering from multiple ailments.
Several other prominent Bengal politicians, too, have contracted the virus. Siliguri MLA and Silguri Municipal Corporation board of administrators chairman Asok Bhattacharya tested positive in a repeat test on Tuesday. State fire and emergency services minister Sujit Bose, who tested positive on May 28 and was admitted to a private hospital in the city after developing fever and mild breathing trouble, returned home on June 12 after he testing negative twice. Trinamool Congress Panihati MLA and assembly chief whip Nirmal Ghosh was admitted to hospital last Friday and tested positive for Covid-19 though he was asymptomatic.
The Falta MLA, a resident of Kalighat, was elected to the assembly for the first time in 2001. He lost the 2006 election but won again in 2011 and 2016. “He always stood by people and helped them. We are in a state of shock,” the three-time MLA’s elder daughter, Pooja Ghosh, said. “I never imagined we would lose him to Covid-19,” she added.
Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankar, too, tweeted his condolence: “He was an experienced leader with a promising prospect. Heartfelt condolences to his wife, two daughters, friends and well-wishers,” he tweeted.
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