Key Highlights:
Kolkata, April 11: Former West Bengal minister and veteran politician Abdur Rezzak Mollah passed away on Friday afternoon at the age of 80 following a prolonged illness. The state government responded to his passing by declaring a half-day holiday in all government and government-run institutions from 2 PM onwards, as directed by the state secretariat Nabanna.
Rezzak Mollah served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 1972 to 2021, making him one of the longest-serving legislators in the state. During the Left Front regime, he held the important portfolio of Land and Land Reforms, playing a key role in shaping agrarian policy in Bengal.
Political Rift and Expulsion from CPM
Following the defeat of the Left Front in 2011, Mollah’s internal disagreements with party leadership intensified. In 2014, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expelled him for publicly criticising the leadership and deviating from party lines. His strained relationship with senior party ideologues, including figures like Pramod Dasgupta, was well known.
Despite facing criticism for his confrontational stance, Mollah continued to assert his political vision without hesitation.
Shift to Trinamool Congress
In a significant political shift, Rezzak Mollah joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2016. That same year, he won the assembly elections and was appointed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet.
His move was seen as a strategic alignment that further reshaped Bengal’s political narrative post-Left rule.
Legacy and Influence
Rezzak Mollah’s passing is widely seen as marking the end of an era, especially in the context of the farmers’ movement in West Bengal. As a vocal and consistent advocate for land rights, his contributions left a lasting imprint on the state’s agrarian politics.
State Response and Public Sentiment
The announcement of a half-day holiday reflects the government’s formal recognition of his contributions. Public figures across party lines have begun issuing condolences, acknowledging his five-decade-long political journey and influence on rural Bengal.
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