Sailen Sarkar (18 July 1940 —31 December 2013) was a Communist Party of India (Marxist) politician, a minister in the state government, five-time legislator and a CPI(M) secretariat member.

Sailen Sarkar
Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development
In office
1982-1987
Minister of Food Processing
In office
2001-2006
Minister for Environment and Parliamentary Affairs
In office
2006-2011
Personal details
Born18 July 1940
Barisal
Died31 December 2013
Malda
Political partyCommunist Party of India (Marxist)
SpouseSwati Sarkar
ChildrenNo children

Early days

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Born at Barisal, 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 in 1960.[1][2]

Electoral achievements

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Sailen Sarkar was elected, on CPI(M) tickets, to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from English Bazar in 1977,[3] 1982[4] and 1987.[5]

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.[1]

He was elected from Ratua in 2001[6] and 2006.[7]

He was cabinet minister of food processing from 2001 to 2006, and cabinet minister for environment and parliamentary affairs from 2006 to 2011.[1]

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."[2]

He was the district CPI(M) secretary in the nineties and was the CPI(M) secretariat member till his last day.[8]

Family and death

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His wife, Swati Sarkar, died a year earlier and he was survived by his siblings.[2] Sailen Sarkar died at a nursing home in Malda town on 31 December 2013 after a brief illness. He was 73.[2]

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."[2]

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."[2]

State social welfare minister and district Trinamul Congress president, Sabitri Mitra, sent her condolences to Sarkar's family.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Former Bengal minister Sailen Sarkar dead". The Times of India, 31 December 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Veteran CPM leader passes away". The Statesman, 1 January 2014. Archived from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  3. ^ "General Elections, India, 1977, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal" (PDF). Constituency-wise Data. Election Commission. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  4. ^ "General Elections, India, 1982, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal" (PDF). Constituency-wise Data. Election Commission. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  5. ^ "General Elections, India, 1987, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal" (PDF). Constituency-wise Data. Election Commission. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  6. ^ "General Elections, India, 2001, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal" (PDF). Constituency-wise Data. Election Commission. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  7. ^ "General Elections, India, 2006, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal" (PDF). Constituency-wise Data. Election Commission. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  8. ^ "Former Minister Sailen Sarkar passes away". The Echo of India, 31 December 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
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External videos
  Maldah CPI(M) leader Sailen Sarkar dead on YouTube