Charismatic Sarkar lead Left surge in Tripura

Agartala, Mar 10 (UNI) A politician, a gentleman and perhaps the cleanest in the rank and file of CPI(M), incumbent Chief Minister Manik Sarkar looked ready for a hattrick as the red bastion held sway in the 10th Assembly polls.

This would be a record in Tripura's political history as the CPI(M) led Left Front garnered overwhelming support of the people demolishing any anti-incumbency trend that pre-poll predictions showed.

While his detractors harped on the corruption factor, Mr Sarkar made progress, employment and rural development his poll plank. And it worked wonders as the people reposed their faith in the overall progress of the state, peace and stability.

Born on January 22, 1949, Sarkar started his political career with the food movement in 1967. He became a member of CPI(M) in 1968. Later, he became the General Secretary of M B B College Student's Union.

Sarkar graduated from the Kolkata University and was selected a member of the CPI(M) State Committee in 1972. He became a member of the Party Central Committee in 1985.

Later, he was appointed the State Left Front Convener and the State Secretary of the CPI(M). He was elected from the Dhanpur Assembly Constituency in 1998 Tripura Elections and subsequently he became member of the CPI(M) politburo in 1998. He has served as the Chief Minister of Tripura since March 1998.

Marxist stalwart and former Chief Minister Nripen Chakraborty was Mr Sarkar's philosopher and guide. Sarkar entered the legislative House by winning a bypoll in Agartala in 1981 and became the chief minister in 1998 after wining from Dhanpur segment in West District.

The high points of his career included a declining trend of militancy, roads in remote areas, two medical colleges and development activities in both urban and rural areas.

People respect the 'Bhadralok' (gentleman) chief minister for his soft demeanour and strong resolve to make Tripura one of the most progressive states in the country.

According to the EC records, the 59-year-old Marxist leader is the poorest Chief Minister of the country with bank balance of only Rs 13,920.

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