Ahead of Suvendu Adhikari’s oath ceremony as West Bengal Chief Minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today touched the feet of Makhanlal Sarkar, one of the senior-most workers of the BJP in the state.At 98, Sarkar remains one of the early grassroots figures associated with the nationalist movement in post-Independence India.In 1952, he was arrested in Kashmir while accompanying Syama Prasad Mookerjee during the movement to hoist the Tricolour there.After the formation of the BJP in 1980, he became the organisational coordinator for West Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts.Within just a year, he helped enrol nearly 10,000 members. From 1981 onwards, he served continuously for seven years as district president, an exceptional achievement at a time when BJP leaders generally could not remain in the same organisational position for more than two years.The PM later posted pictures featuring him in an embrace with Sarkar and said, “Today, as the first BJP government in West Bengal takes oath, it is only natural for all of us to remember Syama Prasad Mookerjee and his everlasting contributions to the nation and especially to West Bengal. We will not spare any effort in realising his dream.”Modi also recalled how Sarkar had worked with Mukherjee and was arrested during his time as a companion in Jammu and Kashmir. He dedicated his life to expanding the base of our party across West Bengal and inspiring people from all levels to join the party.“As BJP workers, we are proud that our party has such inspirational figures who have worked among the people to strengthen our party,” Modi said.Earlier, the PM also paid a tribute to the BJP workers who had died fighting the TMC in Bengal.At the oath-taking venue, the party put up a wall displaying the names of all fallen BJP workers to whom the PM dedicated the party’s historic win in the state.“A tribute to the courageous BJP karyakartas! Even in the midst of celebrations at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata today on the formation of the first-ever BJP government in West Bengal, we remembered all those BJP karyakartas who laid down their lives in the service of an ideal greater than themselves. Their sacrifice is etched forever in the journey of the party. Their courage will remain a source of strength for all of us,” said Modi.He later met the families of three slain BJP workers in Bengal.