Roll over Marx, Engels; Syama Prasad is here

It is the end of the road – literally – for Marx and Engels in Tripura, with its new BJP-led government rechristening a prominent street after ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee, erasing the names of the two Left icons.

Marx-Engels Sarani (or street) was the name of a road leading to the official residences of the chief minister and his Cabinet colleagues here.

A new plaque has been placed there by the administration of the BJP-led government, which came to power after 25 years of Left rule in the state, reports PTI.

The order to change the name to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Road was issued by the Department of Urban Development, which is under Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb.

Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) commissioner Sailesh Kumar Jadav said the order was passed on Monday and the plaque bearing the road's old name removed on Tuesday.

The previous Left Front government led by Manik Sarkar had named the road after the Marxist stalwarts 20 years ago.

The CPI(M) took strong exception to the move and termed it "illegal", while the saffron party said it would continue to highlight "nationalistic views in all spheres of life".

The name of the Jan Sangh founder was written in English, Bengali, Hindi and the Tripuri people's Kokborok language on the new board.

"Such a decision has been taken," said Pranajit Singha Roy, spokesperson of the council of ministers referring to the renaming.

CPI(M) mouthpiece 'Daily Desher Katha' said the move to change the name was "illegal" since such decisions were the prerogative of the municipal body.