CPI(M) Polit Bureau member has issued the following statement on February 22

THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) mourns the passing away of Comrade Bajuban Riyan, former Central Committee member and veteran leader of CPI(M) in Tripura, on February 21, 2020 at ILS Hospital, Agartala. He was 80 years old.

Bajuban Riyan was elected to the Central Committee of the Party at its 19th Congress in 2008 and was relieved  in 2018 at its 22nd Congress. He was elected to the Tripura state committee of the Party in 1973 and to the state secretariat in 2002.

Bajuban Riyan was a distinguished member of parliament from Tripura East parliamentary constituency for seven terms.  He was one who contributed significantly in shaping the Forest Rights Act during UPA-1 government to give the tribal people their right to the forest land. He was four time MLA and minister for animal husbandry and cooperation in the first Left Front government and minister for agriculture in the third Left Front government of Tripura.

He was founding chairman of Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch and one of the tallest leaders of AIKS and Gana Mukti Parishad.

In his death, the Party and the Communist movement in Tripura has suffered a big loss.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) pays its heartfelt condolences to his family members.