Sailen Sarkar (18 July 1940 —31 December 2013) was a

Communist Party of India (Marxist) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated as CPI(M)) is a Communism in India, communist List of political parties in India, political party in India. It is the largest communist party in India in terms of membership and electora ...

politician, a minister in the state government, five-time legislator and a CPI(M) secretariat member.

Early days

Born at

Barisal Barisal ( or ; , ), officially known as Barishal, is a major city that lies on the banks of the Kirtankhola river in south-central Bangladesh. It is the largest city and the administrative headquarter of both Barisal District and Barisal Divi ...

, now in Bangladesh, on 18 July 1940, he was a teacher in early life. In 1956, he joined the movement against the merger of Bengal and Bihar. He acquired the membership of the undivided

Communist Party of India The Communist Party of India (CPI) is a political party in India. The CPI considers the Foundation of the Communist Party of India, December 26, 1925 Cawnpore (Kanpur) conference as its foundation date. Between 1946 and 1951, the CPI led m ...

in 1960.

Electoral achievements

Sailen Sarkar was elected, on

CPI(M) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated as CPI(M)) is a communist political party in India. It is the largest communist party in India in terms of membership and electoral seats, and one of the six national parties of India. ...

tickets, to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from English Bazar in 1977, 1982 and 1987. During this period he served as minister of state for municipal affairs and urban development in the Left Front ministry in West Bengal from 1982 to 1987. He was elected from Ratua in 2001 and 2006. He was cabinet minister of food processing from 2001 to 2006, and cabinet minister for environment and parliamentary affairs from 2006 to 2011. ''The Statesman'' wrote, "Sarkar contested in Parliamentary elections four times but did not succeed. In 1991, he lost by a hairline margin of 1,820 votes against redoubtable Congress leader, Mr Ghani Khan Choudhury." He was the district CPI(M) secretary in the nineties and was the CPI(M) secretariat member till his last day.

Family and death

His wife, Swati Sarkar, died a year earlier and he was survived by his siblings. Sailen Sarkar died at a nursing home in Malda town on 31 December 2013 after a brief illness. He was 73. State tourism minister, Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury showed his respect with a floral tribute and said: "Sarkar was dedicated to his party and sacrificed immensely for Left Front politics. His service as a responsible minister would be remembered always." The Maldah Uttar MP, Mausam Noor showed her respect with a floral tribute and said: "Sarkar always maintained a congenial relationship with Opposition parties. He was a perfect combination of an able political leader and a successful administrator." State social welfare minister and district Trinamul Congress president, Sabitri Mitra, sent her condolences to Sarkar's family.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarkar, Sailen Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from West Bengal 1940 births 2013 deaths West Bengal MLAs 1977–1982 West Bengal MLAs 1982–1987 West Bengal MLAs 1987–1991 Politicians from Barisal Politicians from Barisal Division West Bengal MLAs 2001–2006 West Bengal MLAs 2006–2011