Kolkata, Wednesday 03 February 2010: West Bengal Power minister Mrinal Banerjee passed away today at a hospital here after battling with cancer.

He was 72 and is survived by his wife. The end came at 12.55 pm, family sources said. Banerjee also held the Labour portfolio concurrently till last year.

An electrical engineer by profession, Banerjee was actively engaged in trade union activities when he was an employee at the Durgapur Steel Plant.

Banerjee was elected from the Durgapur-II assembly constituency in the state.