Former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, 76, admitted to Woodlands Hospital with acute respiratory distress on Wednesday, is stable now, his doctors said on Saturday.

He is conscious, alert and has also communicated with doctors verbally, a news bulletin issued by the hospital said, adding that oxygen saturation in his body is 94 per cent and his vitals, including blood pressure and pulse, are stable.

Bhattacharjee, who was brought out of mechanical ventilation on Thursday, showed no sign of deterioration for the next 24 hours. “This is a good sign,” a hospital source, adding that the CPM veteran had slept well on Friday night.

Though Bhattacharjee is being fed through the Ryles tube, doctors are considering its removal in due course.

He has expressed his desire to be released from hospital immediately, but doctors are keeping him under observation.