Kolkata, 24 October (H.S.): Dinabandhu Mandal, the former Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] MLA from the Mahishadal assembly constituency in West Bengal, passed away on Friday night. He was 84.

Mandal had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kolkata for the past few days due to age-related heart ailments. His demise comes just days after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly lauded his exemplary and austere lifestyle on the floor of the State Assembly.

A veteran grassroots leader, Mandal's prominent political journey began when he won the Zilla Parishad elections in 1978. In 1982, he successfully contested the assembly elections on a CPI(M) ticket from Mahishadal in the undivided Medinipur district. He secured a decisive victory by defeating Congress candidate Ramanimohan Maiti with 35,059 votes. Deeply connected to his rural roots, Mandal was once again elected as a Zilla Parishad member in 1993.

Recently, during a legislative discussion regarding the enhancement of medical allowances for former MLAs, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari specially cited Mandal as an example of political integrity. The Chief Minister noted that Mandal was among the rare breed of politicians who completed their tenures with absolute honesty and dedication. Adhikari remarked that even in his twilight years, the former MLA could be seen commuting on a bicycle, walking to the local market to buy vegetables, and sharing tea with common citizens-setting a timeless benchmark for simplicity and humility for all public representatives.

Following the state government's recent decision to increase the medical allowance for former legislators from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000, Mandal had graciously welcomed the move. He had stated that while he would have managed without the financial hike, the Chief Minister’s gesture to honor and support former legislators was highly commendable.

Reacting to the Chief Minister's words of praise in the assembly, the veteran Marxist leader had previously shared a profound message on political discourse, stating that while political ideologies and platforms may vastly differ, mutual respect and cordial human relations should always be preserved.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh