President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday condoled the passing away of Ashok Ghosh, saying the veteran Forward Bloc leader had played a vital role in the formation of the first and second United Front government.
In a message to Debabrata Biswas, General Secretary, All India Forward Bloc, the President said that he was sad at the demise of Ghosh, who played a vital role in the formation of the first and second United Front government consisting of Bangla Congress, Forward Bloc, L.S.S. (Lok Sabha Sangh), C.P.M., C.P.I., R.S.P. (Revolutionary Socialist Party) etc.
The President said Ghosh never aspired to be a member of legislature or to be a minister, though he made several Forward Bloc leaders as MLAs, MPs and Ministers from Bengal for many years.
"He joined the freedom struggle inspired by the leadership of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and built the Subhas Chandra Bose founded All India Forward Bloc into an important political force," he added.
The President said that he knew Ghosh for more than five decades.
"He always enjoyed a fund of affection and goodwill from Ghosh, since the beginning of his political career in the early sixties," said the President.
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President Mukherjee said in death of Ghosh, the working class movement and left movement in the nation will find a vacuum difficult to fill.
"We will always miss his towering personality, which guided us in trial and trouble. He joins millions of the nation in paying my humble tribute to this great son and revolutionary leader of Bengal," he added.