Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with veteran BJP worker Makhanlal Sarkar during the swearing-in ceremony of West Bengal Chief Minister-designate Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata on Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Photo: IANS/PMO)
Kolkata, May 9 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shared photos of his meeting with Makhanlal Sarkar, one of the most senior workers of the BJP in the state, calling him a "motivating figure" and saying that he continues to inspire people from all walks of life to join the party.
At the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took blessings from Makhanlal Sarkar, one of the most senior workers of the BJP in the state. He greeted Makhanlal Sarkar, presented him with a shawl and took his blessings.
At the age of 98, Makhanlal Sarkar remains one of the early grassroots figures associated with the nationalist movement in post-Independence India.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Today, as the first ever BJP Government takes oath in West Bengal, it is natural for all of us to remember Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee and his everlasting contribution to the nation and West Bengal in particular. No stone will be left unturned to fulfil his vision."
"During the swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata, had the opportunity to meet Shri Makhanlal Sarkar Ji. A devout nationalist, he worked with Dr Mookerjee and was even arrested in Jammu and Kashmir while accompanying him. He dedicated his life to our party, expanding its base across West Bengal, inspiring people from all walks of life to join the party," he said.
"We in the BJP are proud that we have such motivating figures who have worked among the people and strengthened our Party," PM Modi added.
In 1952, Sarkar was arrested in Kashmir while accompanying Syama Prasad Mookerjee during the movement to hoist the Indian Tricolour there.
After the formation of the BJP in 1980, he became the organisational coordinator for West Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling districts. Within just one year, he helped enrol nearly 10,000 members.
From 1981 onward, he served continuously for seven years as district president, an exceptional achievement at a time when BJP leaders generally could not remain in the same organisational position for more than two years.
'Years of hard work paid off': Makhanlal Sarkar's family feels 'proud' on recognition from PM Modi
Family members of Makhanlal Sarkar, one of the most veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in West Bengal, said on Saturday that they were "proud" and "happy" that his hard work of several years has finally paid off.
Their reaction came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took Sarkar's blessings during the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adkhikari as the ninth Chief Minister of the state.
Makhanlal Sarkar's daughter Sanchita Basak said that she was proud of her father.
"When we were young, he used to be a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He did a lot for the party. Today, when the BJP government was formed, we felt that all his hard work has paid off," she told IANS.
Basak added that her father never gave into the temptation of joining any other party despite getting calls from them.
However, she said: "Even leaders from other political parties, including Trinamool Congress, CPI-M and Congress, respected my father."
She mentioned that former External Affairs Minister and veteran BJP leader late Sushma Swaraj used to write letters to her father.
"He even went to jail along with Syama Prasad Mookerjee," she added.
Makhanlal Sarkar's son Maniklal Sarkar said: "We never thought that the Prime Minister of the country will show so much respect to my father."
The proud son added that his father got associated with the 'Sangh' since 16 years of age.
Maniklal Sarkar emphasised that his father played a key role in the initiation of BJP's Darjeeling unit.
"My father also worked with Syama Prasad Mookerjee for several years. He was even arrested for singing the national anthem," he told IANS.
"He never deviated from the principles of RSS. Everyone in our neighbourhood knows that he is an honest man and has always led a simple life," the son asserted.
Giving an example of his father's honesty, Maniklal Sarkar said: "During the tenure of late Prime Minister Morarji Desai, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways had given a permit to my father to travel from Siliguri to Gangtok. He disposed that permit at a court in Siliguri, saying 'I don't take up party work for money'."
Putul Sarkar, wife of Makhanlal Sarker, said that her husband had struggled for many years.
She added: "He never spoke much about the party's work at home but he used to read books of Syama Prasad Mookerjee."
The BJP worker's daughter-in-law Minu Sarkar said everyone is proud because her father-in-law has finally got the recognition after working hard for the BJP for so many years.
"It has been 25 years of my marriage and I have seen him attending every meeting, whenever he was called, throughout all these years," she added.
