| Sailen Sarkar | |
| Birth Date: | 18 July 1940 |
| Birth Place: | Barisal |
| Death Date: | 31 December 2013 |
| Death Place: | Malda |
| Office1: | Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development |
| Term1: | 1982-1987 |
| Office2: | Minister of Food Processing |
| Term2: | 2001-2006 |
| Office3: | Minister for Environment and Parliamentary Affairs |
| Term3: | 2006-2011 |
| Party: | Communist Party of India (Marxist) |
| Spouse: | Swati Sarkar |
| Children: | No children |
Sailen Sarkar (18 July 1940 —31 December 2013) was a Communist Party of India (Marxist) politician, a minister in the state government, five-time legislator and a CPI(M) secretariat member.
Born at Barisal, now in Bangladesh, on 18 July 1940, he was a teacher in early life. In 1956, he joined the movement against the merger of Bengal and Bihar. He acquired the membership of the undivided Communist Party of India in 1960.[1] [2]
Sailen Sarkar was elected, on CPI(M) tickets, to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from English Bazar in 1977,[3] 1982[4] and 1987.[5]
During this period he served as minister of state for municipal affairs and urban development in the Left Front ministry in West Bengal from 1982 to 1987.[1]
He was elected from Ratua in 2001[6] and 2006.[7]
He was cabinet minister of food processing from 2001 to 2006, and cabinet minister for environment and parliamentary affairs from 2006 to 2011.[1]
The Statesman wrote, "Sarkar contested in Parliamentary elections four times but did not succeed. In 1991, he lost by a hairline margin of 1,820 votes against redoubtable Congress leader, Mr Ghani Khan Choudhury."[2]
He was the district CPI(M) secretary in the nineties and was the CPI(M) secretariat member till his last day.[8]
His wife, Swati Sarkar, died a year earlier and he was survived by his siblings.[2] Sailen Sarkar died at a nursing home in Malda town on 31 December 2013 after a brief illness. He was 73.[2]
State tourism minister, Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury showed his respect with a floral tribute and said: "Sarkar was dedicated to his party and sacrificed immensely for Left Front politics. His service as a responsible minister would be remembered always."[2]
The Maldah Uttar MP, Mausam Noor showed her respect with a floral tribute and said: "Sarkar always maintained a congenial relationship with Opposition parties. He was a perfect combination of an able political leader and a successful administrator."[2]
State social welfare minister and district Trinamul Congress president, Sabitri Mitra, sent her condolences to Sarkar's family.[2]