Makhanlal Sarkar
Cloud TV Desk: An emotional moment at the swearing-in ceremony of West Bengal’s new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has now become one of the most talked-about political visuals in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen touching the feet of 97-year-old veteran BJP leader Makhanlal Sarkar during the grand event at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground.
The gesture instantly went viral on social media, sparking curiosity about the elderly leader whom the Prime Minister publicly greeted with such reverence. Political observers believe the moment carried both emotional and symbolic significance for the BJP as it marked a historic political transition in West Bengal.
Who Is Makhanlal Sarkar?
Makhanlal Sarkar, a resident of Siliguri in North Bengal, is considered one of the oldest surviving BJP organisers in the state. His political journey dates back to the days of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the ideological predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
According to Bengal BJP leaders, Sarkar worked closely with Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of Jana Sangh. Reports suggest he accompanied Mookerjee during his 1952 Kashmir movement and was also present during the final phase of the leader’s controversial death.
Over the decades, Makhanlal Sarkar became an important figure in building the BJP’s organisational network in North Bengal. He reportedly served as the first district president of BJP’s Siliguri organisational unit and remained actively involved in grassroots politics for decades.
Party insiders describe him as a dedicated ideological worker who helped shape the party structure during its formative years in Bengal.
Emotional Moment At Brigade Parade Ground
The swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground witnessed the presence of several top BJP leaders from across the country. Amid the political celebrations, one particular moment stood out.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked towards Makhanlal Sarkar, embraced him warmly, and then bent down to touch his feet and seek blessings. The visual quickly spread across social media platforms, with BJP supporters hailing it as a mark of respect towards senior party workers.
Political analysts say the gesture was carefully symbolic, especially at a time when BJP has achieved a major political breakthrough in West Bengal.
Arrested For Singing Patriotic Songs?
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya also shared an interesting anecdote from Makhanlal Sarkar’s political life.
According to Bhattacharya, Sarkar was once arrested during the Congress era for singing patriotic songs. He was reportedly asked by a judge to apologise in court, but instead of apologising, he sang another patriotic song.
The judge, impressed by his conviction, eventually allowed him to leave with respect, BJP leaders claimed.
BJP’s Political Messaging
Political observers believe the moment was not merely emotional but also strategically important. By publicly honouring a veteran grassroots worker, the BJP appeared to underline its ideological continuity and organisational legacy in Bengal.
The party has long attempted to project itself as a cadre-driven organisation rooted in sacrifice and ideological commitment. Bringing leaders like Makhanlal Sarkar into the spotlight reinforces that narrative at a crucial political moment for the BJP in West Bengal.
The visual of the Prime Minister bowing before a nearly century-old party veteran is now being seen as one of the defining images of the new political chapter unfolding in the state.
© Copyright 2026, cloudTV. All Rights Reserved
