Madhab Saha, a towering figure in Tripura’s left movements, former State Committee Member of CPI(M), four-time MLA from Matabari, and a respected trade union leader, passed away on 21st February while undergoing treatment at ILS Hospital, Agartala. He had been battling cardiac issues for several years. At the moment of his passing, a hall meeting was underway at Agartala Town Hall to commemorate the 178th anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto. Upon receiving the news, attendees stood in silence for a minute to honor his memory.

Madhab Saha began his political journey as a student leader in the 1960s, leading waves of student movements that shaped the state’s political landscape. Joining CPI(M) in 1967, he served as Joint Secretary of the Student Federation alongside Secretary Manik Sarkar. He represented Tripura at the national student conference in Kerala where the SFI (Students’ Federation of India) was formed in 1970. Over the years, Saha transitioned from student activism to youth work and ultimately dedicated himself to the trade union movement. As a State Secretariat Member of CITU, he played a pivotal role in organizing workers across Tripura and strengthening the union’s presence.

In 1991, he was elected to the CPI(M) State Committee at the 14th State Conference and remained a key member until 2025, stepping down on health grounds. Saha was elected four times to the Tripura Legislative Assembly from the Matabari constituency, earning praise for his parliamentary contributions and active participation in Assembly debates.

The CPI(M) State Secretariat expressed heartfelt condolences to Saha’s wife and only son, describing him as a comrade who dedicated his life to the cause of the downtrodden. Manik Sarkar, long-time colleague and fellow left leader, stated that Saha’s contributions to the development of the left movement in Tripura would remain ever-shining.

On 22nd February, thousands joined a funeral procession starting from the CPI(M) Gomati District Committee office in Udaipur Town, accompanying the mortal remains of Comrade Saha to the crematorium, where he was consigned to flames.