JOIN USTripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, known as the poorest chief minister in the country, had a lesson for Assam on Friday when he travelled to the upper Assam town of Jorhat on overnight intercity train from Guwahati on Friday to attend an event of the Student Federation of India.
Sarkar’s frugal lifestyle did not go unnoticed by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who was also in town.
B Gogoi, a passenger of the Intercity Express that Sarkar took on Thursday night said: “I have never seen such a simple politician. Last night, I boarded the train in 3 AC from Guwahati. Suddenly I saw a white haired man wearing Kurta Paijama entering the coach. At once I could recognise him as Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. There were only four personal security guards, nothing else. As he took his seat, I hesitantly went to greet him; he stood up and wished me. In Assam or rest of North-East, you never find such a politician.”
Later in the morning, when the Assam chief minister went to the Jorhat Circuit house to greet Sarkar, the latter was seen wearing a lungi. He came out in the same attire to see off the Assam chief minister. While Assam chief minister moved around with a contingent of about 100 security personnel, Sarkar reportedly asked the state protocol to keep only one pilot car.
“It is very rare for a chief minister of his stature to be so down to earth. We sometime find it hard to even manage security for MLAs in Assam because they are so demanding, but here Sarkar told us clearly that he does not need any special security cover,” said a senior police official from Jorhat.
For the people of Jorhat, home to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, it was a delight. “After a long time, we saw a VIP move with only three cars, no hooters or sirens. We want politicians like him in Assam. He can be easily approached.”
Assam Chief Minister Gogoi has been criticised for moving with huge security cover and causing trouble for public movement.
While speaking at the SFI event, Sarkar accused the Congress and BJP of trying to polarise voters in Assam and asked Assam to vote for a third alternative in the 2016 Assembly polls in the state. After the event Sarkar left Jorhat the same way – on a train.