Panchayat election: At 84, Rajya Sarkar takes on Mamata Banerjee sarkar in North Dinajpur

 84-year-old is campaigning against Trinamul and state government as his son Madhab is a CPI candidate from a panchayat samiti seat

Octogenarian Rajya Sarkar campaigns for his son Madhab in Itahar block of North Dinajpur on Thursday. :Kousik Sen

Kousik Sen Raiganj, TT, 07.07.23 : For voters of Itahar block in North Dinajpur, “Rajya Sarkar” carries a new meaning in the rural polls.

Octogenarian Rajya Sarkar campaigns for his son Madhab in Itahar block of North Dinajpur on Thursday. :Kousik Sen

Rajya Sarkar in Bengali means the state government. Rajya Sarkar is also the name of an octogenarian of Chouduar village of Itahar, who is campaigning against the state government.

Sarkar, 84, is campaigning against Trinamul and Mamata Banerjee’s government as his son Madhab is a CPI candidate from a panchayat samiti seat.

Every day, he goes out of his home with a red flag. Walking with his son, he meets people and seeks their support for Madhab and the Left.

“Trinamul is trying to prevent parties in the Opposition, including the Left, from contesting the panchayat elections. We are telling people about the corruption during the Trinamul government’s tenure and its failure to create jobs. That is why our young boys had to move to other states,” said the hardcore Leftist octogenarian.

Madhab said his father’s name, Rajya Sarkar, was attracting the attention of people, prompting many to click selfies with him.

“In most places, people are meeting my father first only because of his name. Many of them say they have never met a man with such a name. Youths, even those who are supporters of other parties, are also clicking selfies with him,” said the son.

Chouduar residents said Sarkar was an active CPI worker but never fought elections.

“This time, as his son got a ticket, he is putting his heart and soul into the campaign. Even at this age, he is moving from door to door in the scorching sun and rains,” said a villager.

Asked about his unusual name, the octogenarian said he did not know why his parents named him so.

“It seems they had high hopes for me that I'd do something good for the state. I have always been with the Left and will never shift to any other party. Ahead of polls, some did ask my son to abstain from the contest did come. We didn’t listen,” Sarkar said.