Probodh Purkait
{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Probodh Purkait
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| death_date = 26 March 2023 (aged 87)
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| office = MLA (1967-72) & (1977-2006) (9 Terms)
| constituency = Kultali
| term =
| predecessor = New Seat
| successor = Joy Krishna Halder
| party =Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)
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Probodh Purkait (1936 – 26 March 2023) was an Indian politician from West Bengal. He was elected as an member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly for a record nine times. He represented the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) (SUCI(C)) from the Kultali Assembly constituency for nearly four decades.{{cite web|url=http://www.suci.in/download/pe08012005.pdf |title=suci.in |publisher=suci.in |date= |accessdate=2012-07-12}}
Early life
Purkait is from Kultali, Baruipur subdivision, South 24 Parganas distritc. He was a teacher before he entered politics. He was involved in the farmers' movement and the movement to recover benami land. He left teaching to join Socialist Unity Centre of India party.{{Cite news |last=সংবাদদাতা |first=নিজস্ব |title=প্রাক্তন বিধায়ক প্রবোধ প্রয়াত |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/former-suci-mla-passes-away/cid/1417528 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250124061329/https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/former-suci-mla-passes-away/cid/1417528 |archive-date=2025-01-24 |access-date=2025-05-05 |language=bn}}
Career
Purkait was elected as an MLA for the first time winning the 1967 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election from Kultali Assembly constituency representing the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist).{{cite web |title=General Elections, India, 1967, to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1967/Statistical%20report%20WB1967.pdf |access-date=19 October 2014 |work=Constituency-wise Data |publisher=Election Commission}} He retained the seat for SUCI (C) in the next election in 1969 and won for a third time in the 1971 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election. He lost to Arabinda Naskar of the Indian National Congress in the 1972 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election by a margin of 5,751 votes.
Controversy and conviction
Purkait was kidnapped on the eve of the 1971 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election.{{cite book|author=Jyoti Basu|title=Documents of the Communist Movement in India: 1971-72|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XpraAAAAMAAJ|year=1998|publisher=National Book Agency|isbn=978-81-7626-019-0|page=437}}
In 1996, a court case was opened against Purkait and other SUCI cadres, for alleged killing of two Indian National Congress supporters during a clash in 1985. On 12 November 1997, the Alipore sessions court, which held the trial, convicted six persons and acquitted 32, including Purkait.
Subsequently an appeal was filed by the State Government in the High Court and in 2005 Purkait and six others were given life sentence.[https://archive.today/20130203180257/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050721/asp/bengal/story_5016449.asp The Telegraph - Calcutta : Bengal] SUCI has denounced the process as a false case and called the court ruling a conspiracy of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)).[https://web.archive.org/web/20110201062006/http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/21/stories/2005072102981300.htm The Hindu : National : Life-term for MLA] Supreme Court of India on 27 February 2007 dismissed the appeal filed by Prabodh Purkait against the judgment passed by the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110715190144/http://www.rishabhdara.com/sc/view.php?case=21864 PROBODH PURKAIT versus STATE OF WEST BENGAL & ORS: Judgment of the Supreme Court of India]}}
In June 2013, the SUCI party members requested the then chief minister Mamata Banerjee to provide medical attention to the nine-time leader who is ailing in Alipore jail.{{Cite news |date=2013-06-08 |title=SUCI appeals to government for Probodh Purkayit's treatment |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/suci-appeals-to-government-for-probodh-purkayits-treatment/articleshow/20495337.cms |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} He was released from jail on health grounds in 2023.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Purkait, Probodh}}
Category:Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) politicians
Category:Indian politicians convicted of murder
Category:West Bengal MLAs 1967–1969
Category:West Bengal MLAs 1969–1971
Category:West Bengal MLAs 1971–1972
Category:West Bengal MLAs 1977–1982
Category:West Bengal MLAs 1982–1987
Category:West Bengal MLAs 1987–1991
Category:West Bengal MLAs 1991–1996