Kolkata: Former West Bengal minister Ujjal Biswas, undergoing treatment at a private hospital here for the past few weeks for lung and kidney ailments, is in a critical condition, an official of the facility said on Thursday.
He said the septuagenarian leader has been battling multiple health complications, including kidney dysfunction, a brain stroke and cardiac problems.
"Biswas is currently on ventilator support and undergoing dialysis. Doctors are considering installing a pacemaker, but his condition makes the procedure unviable," the official of the private hospital said.
"His condition remains critical and is being closely monitored by a team of specialists. Given the complications, doctors are assessing the risks before taking any further decision regarding surgical intervention," a senior official of the state health department said.
Biswas, who has been unwell for the past several months, underwent bypass surgery at the private hospital on October 5. "He suffered a stroke the same day and remained hospitalised for nearly 14 days before being discharged," the official said.
"He fell seriously ill again during the Durga Puja festivities, requiring him to be admitted to the hospital on Saptami, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia."
"Biswas's condition deteriorated further due to reduced lung function and other health issues. Doctors performed a surgical procedure in his throat to create an alternate route for breathing," the official said.
Sources said his kidney function has also been affected, necessitating regular dialysis.
Biswas served as a state minister for science, technology and biotechnology in the erstwhile TMC government. He was the correctional administration minister until 2022.
Elected to the state Assembly from the Krishnanagar Dakshin constituency in Nadia district in the 2011 West Bengal Assembly elections, Biswas lost to BJP's Sadhan Ghosh in the 2026 polls.
All India Mamata Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh expressed concern over Biswas's health and alleged that the former minister had suffered physical and mental distress following political developments after this year's Assembly elections.
Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra visited Biswas at the hospital and appealed to people in the constituency to pray for his speedy recovery.