Who is Makhanlal Sarkar? the man whose feet PM Modi touched on the oath stage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal chief minister-designate Suvendu Adhikari felicitated and sought the blessings of Makhanlal Sarkar, one of the senior-most BJP workers in the state, during the political transition in West Bengal following the assembly election results. Sarkar, aged 97, is a resident of Siliguri and was associated with Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee.

Makhanlal Sarkar was an aide of Mookerjee and was part of his final journey, according to BJP leaders. Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya recalled Sarkar’s role during the early years of nationalist political activities and referred to an incident involving his arrest by Delhi Police while singing a nationalist song.

Bhattacharya stated that Sarkar was arrested under the Congress government for singing the song and was produced before a court. He said Sarkar refused to apologise and instead sang the same song again inside the courtroom during the hearing. According to Bhattacharya, the judge later directed officials to arrange a first-class train ticket for Sarkar’s return journey and also provided him Rs 100 for travel expenses.

The meeting between Modi, Adhikari and Sarkar took place amid the BJP’s preparations to form the government in West Bengal after the party’s victory in the assembly elections. Senior BJP leaders and workers were present during the interaction as the new government prepared for the swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata.