Abdur Razzak Molla, Prominent Bengal Minister, Passes Away
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Synopsis
Abdur Razaak Molla, a significant figure in West Bengal's political landscape, passed away at the age of 80. He was known for his roles in both the Left Front and Trinamool Congress governments. His health had declined in recent years, and he was critically involved in land and agricultural issues throughout his career.
Key Takeaways
- Abdur Razaak Molla served in both Left Front and Trinamool Congress governments.
- He was known for his critical stance on land acquisition policies.
- Molla held the role of Land & Land Revenue Minister in the Left Front.
- He was elected from Canning (Purba) and later from Bhangar.
- His health issues led to his absence in the 2021 elections.
Kolkata, April 11 (NationPress) Abdur Razaak Molla, a leader who transitioned from the Communist Party to the Trinamool Congress, passed away on Friday at the age of 80. Molla had been battling age-related health issues and had been mostly confined to his bed.
During the tenure of Buddhadeb Bhattacharya in the Left Front government, Molla held the significant position of Land & Land Revenue Minister, regarded as the second most crucial role after the Chief Minister throughout the Left Front's 34-year governance from 1977 to 2011.
After the Left Front was ousted in 2011, he continued to win elections from his long-held constituency of Canning (Purba) in the South 24 Parganas district. However, his relations with the CPI-M leadership began to deteriorate, leading to his suspension due to alleged anti-party activities.
He served as an independent member of the Assembly for a while before joining the Trinamool Congress prior to the 2016 Assembly elections, where he was nominated from the Bhangar Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas.
Upon his election, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appointed him as the Food Processing Minister. Due to declining health, he did not participate in the 2021 Assembly elections.
Despite being a powerful figure in the previous Left Front government, Molla was a vocal critic of Bhattacharjee's industrialization policies. He argued that these policies alienated the CPI-M from its traditional rural voter base, particularly the farming community, and he opposed land acquisition for industrial projects.
When the Left Front lost power in 2011 to the Trinamool, which capitalized on the land acquisition protests, Molla did not hold back in critiquing his former party.
He humorously remarked on Bhattacharjee and former Industries & Commerce Minister Nirupam Sen: "Hele dhorte pare na, keute dhorte geche (one who cannot catch a non-poisonous snake, went to catch a cobra)."
