Manik Sarkar

Some Lesser Known Facts About Manik Sarkar

• Does Manik Sarkar smoke?: Yes

• Does Manik Sarkar drink alcohol?: Not Known

• In his college days, he became active in student movements.

• Throughout his academic life at MBB College, Sarkar was a candidate of the Students’ Federation of India. 

• During the food crisis of 1967, he was in the first year of his college and campaigned against the then Congress Government’s policies in Tripura.

• At the MBB College, Sarkar became the General Secretary of the Student Union and was also elected to the Vice President of the Students’ Federation of India.

• In 2015, after 18 years, under the Chief Ministership of Manik Sarkar, Tripura Government decided to withdraw the controversial Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from the state. The Act was imposed in the state on 16 February 1997 following the spurt of violence by the ultras. 

• Manik Sarkar is known to lead a modest life and has no car, bank balance or immovable property.

• He doesn’t use government facilities and resources out of his own choice.

• His wife, Panchali Bhattacharya, is a retired central government employee and can often be spotted moving on auto-rickshaws in Agartala and buying grocery like any other common woman.

• Even as a Chief Minister, Manik Sarkar washes his clothes and polishes shoes everyday not even allowing his wife to touch shoes. 

• He is very particular about exercise and Pranayam, and every morning for one hour, he listens to classical music.

• He lives on ₹10,000 per month that his party gives him; as he donates his full salary as chief minister to the party fund.

• So far, Manik Sarkar is Tripura’s longest-serving chief minister; as he has been in the post since 1998.

• Manik Sarkar believes in simplicity and says that simple living should be every Communist leader’s ‘religion.’

• He is a good friend of Lal Krishna Advani.

• He doesn’t even have a cell phone and has never used the red beacon on his official car.

• In an interview, Sarkar said, “My expenses are a small pot of snuff and a cigarette a day.”

• In 2018, his affidavit for the Tripura Assembly election revealed that he is the poorest of all Chief Ministers of India. 

• His spartan lifestyle, extreme honesty, and sincerity are the hallmark of the ruling Left Front.

• Here’s a conversation with Manik Sarkar: