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{{Short description|Indian politician, trade unionist (1911–1996)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
[[File:Jatin_Chakraborty,_at_a_1992_protest.jpg|thumb|Jatin Chakraborty at a 1992 protest against transfer of the [[Tin Bigha Corridor]] to Bangladesh]]'''Jatindra Chandra Chakraborty''' (1911 – 1996) was an Indian politician and [[trade union]]ist. Chakraborty played a prominent role in [[West Bengal]] politics and was often entangled in controversies. He was a founding leader of the [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]] and the [[United Trade Union Congress]]. Chakraborty was a member of the [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]] from 1957 to 1962, 1969 to 1970 and 1977 to 1991. He served in ministerial posts in the state governments of the [[United Front (West Bengal)|United Front]] (1969) and the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] (1977–1988). After falling out with the Left Front in 1988, Chakraborty became a vocal critic of the state government.

==Youth==
Jatindra Chandra Chakraborty was born on 10 September 1911 in [[Comilla]].<ref name=who/><ref name=who69/> He was the son of Surendra Chandra Chakraborty.<ref name=who/> He attended the [[Hare School]] in [[Calcutta]] and would later study at the [[Scottish Church College]], [[Surendranath College|Ripon College]] and [[Vidyasagar College]].<ref name=who/> During his student years, he became politically active, being associated with the revolutionary [[Anushilan Samiti|Anushilan Samiti.]]<ref name=who>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=VFm4AAAAIAAJ Who's who in 1982 Assembly Election, West Bengal: Personalities and Party Manifesto]''. Merchants' Club, 1982. p. iii</ref> As a college student, he was a leader of the All-Bengal Students' Association, an organisation banned by the British colonial authorities, and a member of the Students' Radical Party.<ref name=rch/> He was imprisoned by the British authorities in 1932, after being arrested during the non-cooperation movement.<ref name=who/><ref name=rch>Robi Chakravorti. ''[https://www.epw.in/journal/1962/34/special-articles/studies-voting-behaviour-vi-decline-left-calcutta.html Studies in Voting Behaviour-VI The Decline of the Left in Calcutta Muchipara Constituency]''. ''The Economic Weekly''. Vol. 14, Issue No. 34, 25 Aug 1962. pp. 1381-1386</ref> Chakraborty obtained Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from [[Calcutta University]].<ref name=who/><ref name=who69/><ref name=rch/> Chakraborty was a founding member of the [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]] (RSP) in 1940.<ref name=who/><ref name=mfi>{{cite news|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-02-mn-1787-story.html|title=Poverty and Harsh Critics Surround Calcutta's Island of Communism : India|author=Mark Fineman|date=2 March 1991|archive-date=5 April 2025|access-date=5 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405125543/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-02-mn-1787-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was again imprisoned by the British authorities in 1942 during the [[Quit India]] movement.<ref name=who/><ref name=rch/>

==Labour leader==
Chakraborty was a leader of the [[All India Trade Union Congress]] and served as secretary of the Bengal Provincial Trade Union Congress.<ref name=rch/><ref>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=pFtZAAAAYAAJ Information Bulletin, Issues 51-74]''. World Federation of Trade Unions, 1948. p. 11</ref> In 1949, Chakraborty, K.T. Shahand, and Mrinal Kanti Bose founded the [[United Trade Union Congress]] (UTUC).<ref>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=N6kQAQAAMAAJ The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414094242/https://books.google.at/books?id=N6kQAQAAMAAJ |date=14 April 2025 }}''. 1982. p. 304</ref>

RSP fielded Chakraborty as its candidate in the [[Belgachia Assembly constituency|Belgachia seat]] in the [[1952 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]]. Chakraborty finished in seventh place with 571 votes (2.64%)<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20120114095211/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1951 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref>

Chakraborty was part of a small group of RSP Central Committee members who dominated the party leadership after the departure of the ageing [[Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee]] from the helm of the organisation.<ref name=who/><ref name=mwe>Myron Weiner. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=xz_WCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 Party Politics in India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414083305/https://books.google.at/books?id=xz_WCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 |date=14 April 2025 }}''. Princeton University Press, 2015. p. 122</ref> Chakraborty was the foremost trade union leader and organiser of the RSP in West Bengal.<ref name=mwe/> Between 1947 and 1962, Chakraborty was arrested 13 times in connection with different agitations, such as the January 1956 struggle against the Bihar-Bengal merger and the July 1960 central government employees' strike.<ref name=rch/><ref>Ranabir Samaddar. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=BjZ7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT131 From Popular Movements to Rebellion: The Naxalite Decade] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414090246/https://books.google.at/books?id=BjZ7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT131 |date=14 April 2025 }}''. Routledge, 2018</ref><ref>[[S. A. Dange]]. ''[https://www.indianlabourarchives.org/bitstream/20.500.14121/2203/1/78.%20All%20glory%20to%20the%20valiant%20strikers%20A%20review%20of%20the%20Strike%20of%20Central%20Government%20Employees%2C%20July%201960.pdf ALL GLORY TO THE VALIANT STRIKERS - A Review of the Strike of Central Government Employees, July 1960] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414142935/https://www.indianlabourarchives.org/bitstream/20.500.14121/2203/1/78.%20All%20glory%20to%20the%20valiant%20strikers%20A%20review%20of%20the%20Strike%20of%20Central%20Government%20Employees%2C%20July%201960.pdf |date=14 April 2025 }}''. AITUC. p. 32</ref> In 1952, Chakraborty was part of a UTUC delegation visiting [[China]] for [[International Workers' Day|May Day]]. In 1953, he took part in a study visit to trade unions in the [[United Kingdom]] under the [[Colombo Plan]], and in 1954, he was a delegate to the [[World Federation of Trade Unions]] congress held in the [[Soviet Union]].<ref name=rch/><ref>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=UtSGAAAAIAAJ Daily News Release]''. Hsinhua News Agency, 1952. p. 19</ref>

==Legislator==
Chakraborty contested the [[Muchipara Assembly constituency|Muchipara seat]] in the [[1957 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]]. Muchipara was a constituency located in three central Calcutta wards (wards number 30, 43 and 45).<ref name=rch/> This time, RSP was part of a [[Communist Party of India]]-led left coalition.<ref name=rch/> Chakraborty won the seat, obtaining 15,251 votes (50.27%).<ref name=eciwb57>Election Commission of India. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20101006032945/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1957/StatRep_WB_1957.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1957 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> He won by a margin of 511 votes.<ref name=rch/><ref name=eciwb57/> His support was concentrated in wards 30 and 43, the latter characterized by housing a large red light district.<ref name=rch/> During his tenure as a legislator, he actively sought to maintain links with his constituents, often visiting homes and attending social gatherings in the area.<ref name=rch/> He kept offices in each ward and regularly attended these offices at fixed evening hours.<ref name=rch/> Chakraborty had a high profile as a legislator; his actions in the legislature were often reported in Calcutta newspapers.<ref name=rch/> Per a prominent Congress politician he was second among opposition politicians only to the communist [[Leader of the Opposition]] [[Jyoti Basu]].<ref name=rch/>

After the death of UTUC general secretary M.K. Bose in 1957, the [[Bolshevik Party of India]] leader [[Sisir Roy]] became the new UTUC general secretary. However, according to [[Harold Crouch]] (1966), the real power within UTUC lay with Chakraborty.<ref name=hacr>Harold A. Crouch. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=q8AyAAAAMAAJ Trade Unions and Politics in India]''. Manaktalas, 1966. p. 232</ref> Chakraborty was one of the secretaries of UTUC.<ref name=who/><ref name=hacr/><ref name=dolo>United States. Bureau of International Labor Affairs. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=EAXx2LaXyE0C&pg=SA16-PA64 Directory of Labor Organizations, Asia and Australasia, Vol. 1]''. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1963. p. 16-59, 16-64</ref> Chakraborty became a member of the Governing Body of the [[National Productivity Council]] when it was founded in 1957.<ref name=who/><ref name=rch/><ref>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=PIsVi4CguvsC The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414092131/https://books.google.at/books?id=PIsVi4CguvsC |date=14 April 2025 }}''. Bennett, Coleman & Company, 1961. p. 1102</ref> In 1961, Chakraborty visited [[Czechoslovakia]] as a member of a National Productivity Council delegation.<ref name=rch/>

Chakraborty lost the Muchipara seat in the [[1962 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]], finishing in second place with 18,141 votes (49.26%).<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20101006192934/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1962/StatRep_WB_1962.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1962 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> He lost the seat to Congress candidate [[Pratap Chandra Chunder]], who won by a margin of 545 votes.<ref name=rch/> Chakraborty remained the most voted candidate in wards 30 and 43, but the increase in Congress vote in ward 45 shifted the balance in Chunder's favour.<ref name=rch/>

==United Front==
Chakraborty was a member of the [[West Bengal Legislative Council]] during the 1960s.<ref>Maitra, Swati. ''[http://www.jstor.org/stable/44156654 ASSEMBLING ON ROAD : AN UNFORGETTABLE TALE OF 4 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS (19TH TO 22ND APRIL, 1966)]''. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, vol. 76, 2015, pp. 851–57.</ref><ref>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=SP3VAAAAMAAJ The Indian Railway Gazette, Vol. 63-64]''. 1965. p. 225</ref> Chakraborty and other UTUC leaders played an important role in shaping left unity for the [[1967 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]].<ref>Michael v. d Bogaert. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=_oVjAAAAMAAJ Dock Worker Unions in Calcutta and Bombay: A Case Study of Trade Union Growth in a Developing Economy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414130439/https://books.google.at/books?id=_oVjAAAAMAAJ |date=14 April 2025 }}''. Industrial Relations Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, 1967. p. 354</ref> In the [[1969 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]], Chakraborty won the [[Sealdah Assembly constituency|Sealdah seat]]. He obtained 27,797 votes (55.32%).<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20120112051819/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1969/StatReport_WB_69.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1969 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> Chakraborty became one of two RSP ministers in the [[Second Mukherjee ministry|United Front state government]] formed after the 1969 election.<ref>Bidyut Chakrabarty. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=R0xWBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA64 Left Radicalism in India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414091305/https://books.google.at/books?id=R0xWBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA64 |date=14 April 2025 }}''. Routledge, 2014. p. 64</ref> He held the post of Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and served as the Chief Whip in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly since February 1969.<ref name=agh/><ref name=who69>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=f4HiAAAAMAAJ The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who]''. 1969. p. 874</ref> He attended the seventh congress of the [[World Federation of Trade Unions]], held in [[Budapest]] in 1969.<ref name=gli/> He also visited [[East Germany]], where he was received by the [[Free German Trade Union Federation]].<ref name=gli>Georg Lilie. ''[https://perspectivia.net/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/pnet_derivate_00005872/lilie_gdr_en.pdf Trade Union Relations and Delegations between the German Democratic Republic (FDGB) and India (AITUC, INTUC, HMS) from 1964 to 1982] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405161735/https://perspectivia.net/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/pnet_derivate_00005872/lilie_gdr_en.pdf |date=5 April 2025 }}''. 2022</ref>

==1971 and 1972 elections==
In the [[1971 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]], Chakraborty contested the [[Balurghat Assembly constituency|Balurghat seat]] instead. He finished in second place with 22,941 votes (42.11%).<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20101005110118/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_WB_71.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1971 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> In the [[1972 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]], RSP fielded him in the [[Dhakuria Assembly constituency|Dhakuria seat]], finishing in second place with 20,550 votes (38.63%).<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20140404195120/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1972/StatReport_WB_72.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1972 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> During the election campaign, he survived an assassination attempt, as a bomb exploded on 27 February 1972.<ref>Jyoti Basu. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=XpraAAAAMAAJ Documents of the Communist Movement in India: 1971-1972] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414085954/https://books.google.at/books?id=XpraAAAAMAAJ |date=14 April 2025 }}''. National Book Agency, 1997. p. 437</ref>

==Left Front minister==
Chakraborty won the Dhakuria seat in the [[1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]], obtaining 32,029 votes (48.92%).<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20101007062834/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1977/StatisticalReportWestBengal77.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1977 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> He was appointed Minister-in-Charge of the Public Works Department (excluding the Metropolitan Development Branch) and the Department of Housing in the first [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] state government.<ref name=who/><ref name=agh>Anjali Ghosh. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=s3EeAAAAMAAJ Peaceful Transition to Power: A Study of Marxist Political Strategies in West Bengal, 1967-1977]''. Firma KLM, 1981. pp. 92, 169</ref><ref>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=5sgQAQAAMAAJ The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who]''. 1978. p. 873</ref> In the midst of the post-electoral frenzy, the incoming minister, Chakraborty, had the dome of the [[Shaheed Minar, Kolkata|Shaheed Minar]] monument painted [[Red#Socialism and communism|red]]. The move proved unpopular in the city, and Chakraborty was forced undo the colour change of the monument.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Gulf Times|url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/93462/kolkata-turns-blue-as-cm-orders-makeover|title=Kolkata turns blue as CM orders makeover|date=18 February 2012}}</ref><ref>Indian History Collective. ''[https://indianhistorycollective.com/lessons-from-the-left-bengal/ Power is an Unforgiving Mistress: Lessons from the Decline of the Left in Bengal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405125543/https://indianhistorycollective.com/lessons-from-the-left-bengal/ |date=5 April 2025 }}''</ref><ref>Kheya Bag. ''[https://newleftreview.org/issues/ii70/articles/kheya-bag-red-bengal-s-rise-and-fall Red Bengal’s Rise and Fall] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405162521/https://newleftreview.org/issues/ii70/articles/kheya-bag-red-bengal-s-rise-and-fall |date=5 April 2025 }}''. ''New Left Review''</ref>

He retained the Dhakuria seat in the [[1982 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]], obtaining 51,151 votes (60.60%).<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20101006142613/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1982/StatisticalReportWestBengal82.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1982 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> He retained his ministerial portfolios in the second Left Front government.<ref>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=FXuoGz0Sh_MC The Education Quarterly, Vol. 35-36] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414084717/https://books.google.at/books?id=FXuoGz0Sh_MC |date=14 April 2025 }}''. Ministry of Education & Social Welfare., 1983. p. 61</ref>

In mid-1983, Chakraborty was embroiled in a dispute with [[Pop music|pop]] singer [[Usha Uthup]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sunday Observer|url=https://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/clippings.nsf/(docid)/DC13B6C8233DFAF76525694200313C6B?OpenDocument|title='When Marxists come across sex in a novel, they think it's retrograde'|date=16 October 1983|author=Sunil Gangopadhyay}}</ref> The controversy lasted for about two months.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |date=4 September 1983 |title=Marxist Leader Fails to Silence Indian Singer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/04/world/marxist-leader-fails-to-silence-indian-singer.html |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Chakraborty decried Uthup's performances as "''apasanskriti''" ([[Decadence|decadent]]).<ref name=lopo>{{cite news|newspaper=Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/love-politics/|title=Love & politics|date=30 March 2024}}</ref> Chakraborty publicly argued that he wanted to protect Bengali society from "cheap, [[disco]], perverted culture".<ref name=nyt/> Chakraborty declared that Uthup would be stopped from performing in state-run auditoriums.<ref name=int>{{cite news|newspaper=India Today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/eyecatchers/story/19830630-singer-usha-uthup-gets-ban-threat-for-promoting-a-decadent-culture-in-bengal-770770-2013-07-19|title=Singer Usha Uthup gets ban threat for 'promoting a decadent culture' in Bengal|date=30 June 1983|archive-date=5 April 2025|access-date=5 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405130805/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/eyecatchers/story/19830630-singer-usha-uthup-gets-ban-threat-for-promoting-a-decadent-culture-in-bengal-770770-2013-07-19|url-status=live}}</ref> Chakraborty and RSP workers disrupted Uthup's shows.<ref name=lopo/><ref name=usro/> Uthup sued Chakraborty for defamation because of his comments against her.<ref name=nyt/><ref name=toiiw2/> A Calcutta High Court judge ruled in favour of Uthup.<ref name=nyt/><ref name=usro>{{cite news|newspaper=Harmony|url=https://harmonyindia.org/people_posts/usha-rocks/|title=Usha rocks!|date=May 2008|author=Rajashree Balaram|archive-date=5 April 2025|access-date=5 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405125545/https://harmonyindia.org/people_posts/usha-rocks/|url-status=live}}</ref>

He again won the Dhakuria seat in the [[1987 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]], with 53,361 votes (53.10%).<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20101006063052/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1987/StatisticalReportWestBengal87.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1987 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> Chakraborty retained his role as Minister of the Public Works Department in the third Left Front state government formed after the 1987 election.<ref>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=VkS6AAAAIAAJ Near East/South Asia Report, Issue 87057] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414083409/https://books.google.at/books?id=VkS6AAAAIAAJ |date=14 April 2025 }}''. Foreign Broadcast Information Service, 1987. p. 79</ref>

==Bengal Lamps controversy==
In 1988, Chakraborty was at the centre of a major political controversy, which almost brought down the state government. On 18 September 1988, the Bengali daily ''[[Ananda Bazar Patrika]]'' published a note attributed to Chakraborty, which alleged that he had received instructions from the Chief Minister [[Jyoti Basu]] to favour the [[Jadavpur]] based loss-making firm Bengal Lamps company (where Jyoti Basu's son [[Jyoti Basu#Personal life|Chandan]] was employed at that time) with bulk orders from the Public Works Department.<ref name=psgu/> At the time, it was widely believed that Chakraborty himself had leaked the note.<ref name=psgu/> Political commentators speculated that recent decisions to remove the State Housing Board from his responsibilities and to hand over road construction to the Public Works Department and the [[District council (India)|Zilla Parishad]]s could have provoked Chakraborty to leak the note.<ref name=psgu/> Another explanation, circulating at the time, was that Chakraborty had leaked the note upon orders from the RSP, in the wake of a low point in RSP-CPI(M) relations after violence committed by CPI(M) cadres against the members of other Left Front parties in the lead up to the 1988 [[Panchayati raj|panchayat]] elections.<ref name=psgu/> In the run-up to the panchayat elections, Chakraborty had called Basu "arrogant and haughty" in a speech at a rally, and had apologize soon thereafter.<ref name=toiiw2/> Other commentators speculated that the note might have originated from the bureaucracy and was linked to disputes among bureaucrats.<ref name=psgu/> The CPI(M) accused Chakraborty of fabricating a false accusation against Basu and asked him to apologize, admit the note was false, and resign from his ministerial post.<ref name=psgu/><ref name=tte1/> Chakraborty refused to back down.<ref name=tte1/> Initially, RSP supported Chakraborty, and it appeared that the Left Front was heading towards a break-up.<ref name=psgu/> Eventually, the crisis was averted as RSP changed position and asked Chakraborty to resign.<ref name=psgu>Gupta, Prasanta Sen. ''[https://doi.org/10.2307/2644833 Politics in West Bengal: The Left Front versus the Congress (I)]''. Asian Survey, vol. 29, no. 9, 1989, pp. 883–97.</ref><ref name=tte1/> Chakraborty resigned from his ministerial post on 28 October 1988.<ref name=tte1/><ref>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=59ONAAAAMAAJ The Journal of Parliamentary Information, Vol. 35] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414083209/https://books.google.at/books?id=59ONAAAAMAAJ |date=14 April 2025 }}''. Lok Sabha Secretariat, 1989. p. 68</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=India Today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19881130-west-bengal-rsp-leader-jatin-chakraborty-resigns-under-pressure-797937-1988-11-29|title=West Bengal: RSP leader Jatin Chakraborty resigns under pressure|date=30 November 1988|author=Kamaljeet Rattan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205074055/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19881130-west-bengal-rsp-leader-jatin-chakraborty-resigns-under-pressure-797937-1988-11-29 |archive-date=5 December 2023 }}</ref> Chakraborty was expelled from RSP.<ref name=tte1>{{cite news|newspaper=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/controversies-that-dogged-the-pragmatic-chief-minister/cid/555483|title=Controversies that dogged the pragmatic chief minister|date=18 January 2010}}</ref><ref name=mfi/>

==In the political wilderness==
Chakraborty's departure from the party diminished the RSP's clout.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/left-front-split-on-gorkhaland-issue-196101801166_1.html|title=Left Front Split On Gorkhaland Issue|date=18 October 1996}}</ref> After the rupture with the Left Front, he emerged as a vocal critic of the government.<ref name=mfi/><ref name=parlance/> Around 1991, he tried to mobilise Left Front dissidents into a "third front" ahead of the upcoming elections, and garnered a degree of support in Calcutta.<ref name=mfi/> He would describe the first 5–7 years of Left Front governance as a positive experience, but that in later years, 'decay crept in'.<ref name=parlance/> In particular, Chakraborty criticized the economic policies of the Left Front government.<ref name=parlance>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=tG9DAAAAYAAJ Parlance, Vol. 14] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414094904/https://books.google.at/books?id=tG9DAAAAYAAJ |date=14 April 2025 }}''. O.P. Shah, 1990. p. 7</ref> He publicly criticized the installation of a statue of [[Ho Chi Minh]], instead calling for a [[Jayaprakash Narayan]] statue to be raised at the same spot.<ref name=mfi/> [[Gorkha National Liberation Front]] leader [[Subhash Ghising]] invited Chakraborty to [[Darjeeling]] to discuss support for autonomy for the Gorkha Hills.<ref>Kalyan Chaudhuri. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=EZ9KAQAAIAAJ Ghising losing out in Darjeeling]'', in '' Frontline, Vol. 9''. S. Rangarajan for Kasturi & Sons, 1992. p. 32</ref>

He contested the [[1991 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]] with Congress(I) support.<ref>Meenu Roy. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=tl-NAAAAMAAJ The Battle of the Ballot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414093506/https://books.google.at/books?id=tl-NAAAAMAAJ |date=14 April 2025 }}''. Classic Publishing House, 1992. p. 83</ref> Chakraborty ran as an [[independent (politician)|independent candidate]] in the Dhakuria seat, finishing in second place with 40,426 votes (34.14%) and losing the seat to the RSP candidate [[Kshiti Goswami]].<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20101006200136/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1991/StatisticalReport-West%20Bengal91.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1991 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> Chakraborty died in August 1996.<ref>Ana Ganza. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=mo4wyWVQu84C&pg=PT229 Journey of Hope - Authorized by Mother Teresa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414104131/https://books.google.at/books?id=mo4wyWVQu84C&pg=PT229 |date=14 April 2025 }}''. 2014</ref>

==Legacy==
Popularly known as "Jakie Da", Chakraborty played a major role in West Bengal politics.<ref name=sray>Sudhir Ray. ''[https://books.google.at/books?id=loYOAQAAMAAJ Marxist Parties of West Bengal in Opposition and in Government, 1947-2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414131300/https://books.google.at/books?id=loYOAQAAMAAJ |date=14 April 2025 }}''. Progressive Publishers, 2007. p. 182</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Millenium Post|url=https://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/cm-inaugurates-floodlights-at-east-bengal-and-mohammedan-sporting-club-grounds-291354|title=CM inaugurates floodlights at East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting Club grounds|date=26 March 2018}}</ref> A controversial figure, he was described variably as "sharp-tongued, witty, vigorous, courageous - but somewhat lacking in decorum", "a man of colourful personality" and "ebullient".<ref name=sray/><ref name=parlance/><ref name=int/> In 1988, ''[[The Illustrated Weekly of India]]'' stated that Chakraborty had an "uncanny ability to spout utterances which embroil him in needless, unsavoury controversies".<ref name=toiiw2>''[https://books.google.at/books?id=6EcdAQAAMAAJ Times of India Illustrated Weekly, Vol. 109, Issues 27-39]''. 1988. p. 53</ref> In 1966, the ''[[Economic and Political Weekly]]'' commentator [[Flibbertigibbet]] stated that "Jatin Chakraborty has never been known to be an easy person to accommodate in any alliance".<ref>Flibbertigibbet. ''[http://www.jstor.org/stable/4357104 White Caps in the Ring]''. Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 1, no. 10, 1966, pp. 404–05</ref> He was known to be a cigar smoker.<ref name=tte2>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/bloc-follows-buddha-jatin-script/cid/542641|newspaper=The Telegraph|title=Bloc follows Buddha, Jatin script|date=26 September 2008}}</ref>

==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chakraborty, Jatin}}
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:Revolutionary Socialist Party (India) politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the West Bengal Legislative Council]]
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 1957–1962]]
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 1969–1971]]
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 1977–1982]]
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 1982–1987]]
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 1987–1991]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Trade unionists from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Scottish Church College alumni]]
[[Category:Vidyasagar College alumni]]
[[Category:Hare School alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kolkata]]

Jatin Chakraborty - Revision history

KennyRoss67889 at 08:32, 30 January 2026