Manik Sarkar To Continue Living An Austere Life After Defeat, Moves To A Room In CPI(M) Office

Former Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Sarkar has moved to his new residence at the CPI(M) state committee office. Earlier, he lived at his official home as a chief minister on Marks-Engels Sarani. He shifted to his new house at a distance of 500 meters from the older one after serving as the chief minister of Tripura for 20 years.

CPI(M) State Party Secretary Bijan Dhar told NDTV that Manik Sarkar would reside in one room of the Party Guest House along with his wife, Panchali Bhattacharya. Haripada Das, the CPI(M) Office Secretary told reporters that the former Chief Minister has indicated that he would be eating “whatever is cooked in the party office kitchen”. He further added that “Former CM has already sent packets of books and clothes and some CDs to the Party Office. Mr Sarkar might shift to a government quarter if he is allocated one by the new government.”

How did Manik Sarkar’s wife respond?

The wife of the “poorest CM”, Panchali Bhattacharya had told PTI that she shall donate Marxist literature and other books to the Party Office Library and the Birchandra Central Library in Agartala.

Manik Sarkar’s wife seldom used a government vehicle for her personal use. Instead, she used to take public transport like autorickshaws and rickshaws on a day to day basis. The couple had no children and dedicated life of 20 years in the service of Tripura.

In the recent assembly election held in Tripura on February 18, 2018, BJP toppled the 25-year-old CPI(M) government ousting Manik Sarkar from the post of Tripura’s Chief Minister. 48-year-old Biplab Kumar Deb has taken the role of the Chief Minister. PM Narendra Modi along with BJP National President Amit Shah attended the oath ceremony.