Maharashtra was Bardhan's 'karmabhumi': Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai, Jan 2: Though born in Sylhet (now in Bangladesh), the 'karmabhumi' of veteran CPI leader Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan was Maharashtra for much of his life, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recalled in their condolence messages on Sunday Jan 3.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described Bardhan as a leader with an honest mind who fought for the cause of the common man irrespective of the political differences.

Fadnavis, who hails from Nagpur, noted that Bardhan won Assembly election in 1957 from the Nagpur West, the same constituency where the CM won his first Assembly election much later.

"I shared good relations with Bardhan as he hailed from Nagpur," Fadnavis said in his message, adding that the veteran communist leader played an important role in creation of Coffee House Karmchari Sangh in Nagpur. "Bardhan was a guide for many and I have also lost a guide in his demise," the Chief Minister added.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who also hails from Nagpur, said after his election as BJP president he had met Bardhan at latter's Delhi residence and sought his blessings.

"He would be remembered as an upright union leader who fought for the cause of workers starting from Nagpur and Vidarbha," Gadkari said.

Other leaders from Vidarbha, including former MPs Banwarilal Purohit (BJP) and Vilas Muttemwar (Congress), former minister Madhukar Kimmatkar, advocate Neeraj Khandewal and MSEB Workers Federation president Mohan Sharma, a longtime associate of Bardhan's, also condoled the demise of the leader.

PTI