Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched the feet of veteran BJP worker Makhan Lal Sarkar during a swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata on May 9, 2024 [2].
The gesture occurred during the inauguration of the first BJP government in West Bengal, marking a historic shift in the state's political landscape. By honoring a grassroots veteran, the prime minister sought to emphasize the party's respect for long-term loyalty and ideological roots during the transition of power.
The event took place at the Brigade Parade Ground, where Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as chief minister. During the proceedings, Modi hugged and touched the feet of Sarkar to seek blessings [1].
Sarkar is recognized as one of the oldest workers in the region. While reports on his exact age vary, sources cite him as being either 97 [1] or 98 years old [2].
Samik Bhattacharya, the Bengal BJP chief, highlighted Sarkar's deep historical ties to the party's foundation. "Makhan Lal Sarkar was the aide of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and part of his last journey," Bhattacharya said [1].
The moment was emotional for the prime minister as he acknowledged the lifelong commitment of the senior activist. The public display served as a symbolic bridge between the party's early struggles in the state and its current electoral success in West Bengal.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched the feet of veteran BJP worker Makhan Lal Sarkar”
The interaction serves as a calculated piece of political symbolism. By publicly deferring to a grassroots veteran like Makhan Lal Sarkar, Modi is signaling that the BJP's victory in West Bengal is not merely a recent political achievement, but the culmination of decades of effort by the party's oldest loyalists.
