Manik Sarkar: Biography

Biography  :
Manik Sarkar, born in a Bengali Hindu family on 22 January 1949) is an Indian politician. He became Chief Minister of Tripura in March 1998, and is a Politburo Member of Communist Party of India (Marxist). In March 2008, he was sworn in as leader of Left Front, the Tripura coalition government.. In assembly elections held in 2013, he became the chief minister for the consecutive fourth time. Manik Sarkar donates his CM salary and allowances to his party, which pays him 5000 (US$92) as subsistence allowances. His affidavit for the 2013 Tripura Assembly election revealed that he may well be the poorest of all Chief Ministers of India

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar can arguably be dubbed 'the cleanest and poorest' chief minister in the country with personal property, movable and immovable, valued at less than Rs 2.5 lakh.

According to the affidavit submitted by the 64-year-old Sarkar during filing of nomination in Dhanpur constituency for the upcoming assembly elections, he had Rs 1,080 cash in hand and his bank balance stood at Rs 9,720.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist leader is aiming for a fourth consecutive term in the northeastern state.

He inherited a home of 432 sq ft with a tin-shed house from his deceased mother Anjali Sarkar whose present market value was Rs 2,20,000.

However, his wife Panchali Bhattacharya, who is a retired officer of the Central government has a cash fixed deposit of Rs 23,58,380 and jewellery worth 20 gm of gold, the present market value of which is Rs 72,000. She has cash of Rs 22,015 in hand.

Her family sources said she had got the money as part of her retirement benefits. The couple has no movable property and the total value of immovable property and cash is Rs 24,52,395.

A state Committee member of the ruling CPI-M, Haripada Das, who looks after the accounts of the party said, like other party members, Sarkar donates his full salary and subsidiary allowances to the party and instead the party pays him Rs 5,000 as subsistence allowances.

According to official sources, the chief minister's monthly salary is Rs 9,200 which, perhaps, is the lowest in the country. When contacted, State Party Secretary Bijan Dhar said, "I can only say that he has no leaning for increasing his own personal property. He has dedicated his entire life for the party and people."

Even his bitter critics do not blame him for any kind of corruption.