Sarat Barkotoky

Summary

Sarat Barkotoky (1 March 1935 – 30 October 2023) was an Indian politician from the state of Assam. He was a Member of Assam Legislative Assembly for Sonari and Education minister. He was also a Minister of State in the Hiteswar Saikia cabinet.[1]

Sarat Barkotoky
Minister for Education, Pension and Public Grievance
In office
23 January 2015 – 19 May 2016
Chief MinisterTarun Gogoi
Minister for the Public Works Department
In office
17 May 2001 – 21 May 2006
Chief MinisterTarun Gogoi
Minister of State, Government of Assam
In office
30 June 1991 – 15 May 1996
Chief MinisterHiteswar Saikia
Bhumidhar Barman
Member of Assam Legislative Assembly
In office
1991 – 19 May 2016
Preceded byBhadreswar Buragohain
Succeeded byTopon Kumar Gogoi
ConstituencySonari
Personal details
Born(1935-03-01)1 March 1935
Mathurapur, Sonari, Assam Province, British India
Died30 October 2023(2023-10-30) (aged 88)
Political partyIndian National Congress
Spouse
Bina Barkotoky
(m. 1965)
Children3
Parent(s)Hem Chandra Barkotoky (Father)
Chandra Probha Barkotoky (Mother)

Early life and education edit

Barkotoky was born in Mathurapur, Sonari on 1 March 1935 to Chandra Barkotoky and Chandra Probha Barkotoky.[2] He had a B.T. Examination in the year 1970 from Dibrugarh University.[3] He also had a B.A.[2]

Political career edit

Barkotoky was the Indian National Congress candidate for the constituency of Sonari in the 1991 Assam Legislative Assembly election. His predecessor, Bhadreswar Buragohain, did not seek reelection and became a Rajya Sabha MP. Barkotoky received 38877 votes, 57.96% of the total vote and became the new MLA for Sonari. He defeated his nearest opponent by 23491 votes.[4] He was made a minister of state in the Hiteswar Saikia cabinet. After Saikia died, he retained his role as minister of state in the short Barman ministry.[1]

Barkotoky sought reelection in the 1996 Assam Legislative Assembly election. He received 52052 votes, 61.8% of the total vote and defeated his nearest opponent by 31464 votes.[4]

Barkotoky was again a candidate in the 2001 Assam Legislative Assembly election. He received 59554 votes, 67.25%. He defeated his nearest opponent by 34941 votes.[4] He was made minister for the Public Works Department in the 2001 Tarun Gogoi cabinet. As PWD minister, Barkotoky implemented a Mega project for development of road and drainage of Assam, spending 50 crore.[5]

In the 2006 Assam Legislative Assembly election, Barkotoky sought reelection. He received 56206 votes, defeating his nearest opponent by 34990 votes. When Tarun Gogoi constituted his new ministry, Barkotoky was not included.[4][1]

In the 2011 Assam Legislative Assembly election, he sought reelection in Sonari. He received 56655 votes, 53.38% of the total vote. He defeated his nearest opponent by 28904 votes.[4] After a cabinet reshuffle in the Tarun Gogoi ministry, on 23 January 2015 Barkotoky was made Education minister in Assam.[6] He spoke with the Chief Minister when he said the education was the priority in Assam.[7] He also requested that Smriti Irani organise state grants for universities.[8]

In the 2016 Assam Legislative Assembly election, Barkotoky sought reelection as the Congress candidate for Sonari. He received 49210 votes, 37.47% pf the total vote. He lost to BJP candidate, Topon Kumar Gogoi, by 24117 votes. He was one of 10 cabinet ministers who lost in the election.[9]

Personal life and death edit

Barkotoky married Bina Barkotoky on 5 June 1965 and they had 3 children; two sons and one daughter. He was interested in sports like Table Tennis, Badminton, Carrom etc. He was associated with various political and cultural organisations. He was also Vice Chairman of the State Planning Board from 2006 and Chairman of the Committee on Estimates, ALA from 2010.[2]

Sharat Barkatki died on 30 October, at the age of 88. He had been undergoing treatment at GMCH from 16 October.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Sarat Barkotoky Ministership" (PDF). shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Who's Who". 1 August 2016. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Sarat Borkotoky(Indian National Congress(INC)):Constituency- SONARI(CHARAIDEO) - Affidavit Information of Candidate:". myneta.info. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Sonari Assembly Constituency Election Result - Legislative Assembly Constituency". resultuniversity.com. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Mega project for development of road and drainage of Assam". Zee News. 2 May 2002. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Portfolios allocated to new Assam ministers". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Education is Assam Government's priority: Tarun Gogoi". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Assam Education Minister seeks grants from MHRD". CFO India. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  9. ^ "10 Gogoi cabinet ministers bite the dust". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Assam: Former minister, retired teacher Sarat Barkotoky passes away". India Today NE. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.