CPI(ML) leaders at the new office in Ranchi on Friday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

The CPI(ML) on Friday got a new state headquarters in Ranchi that has been named after Mahendra Singh, the veteran Left leader who fell prey to rebel bullets in 2005.

The building, which came up at the same plot where the old one stood near Main Road, comprises a conference hall on the first floor and a small hall on the ground floor to hold conferences. CPI-ML spent Rs 20 lakh to build the new office that was inaugurated by party general secretary Deepankar Bhattacharya in the presence of many Left leaders, including Mahendra Singh’s son Vinod Singh.

A life-size cut-out of the late vociferous leader, which has been placed just at the entrance of the new building, was also unveiled.

“My father had always dreamt of a better life for the poor and marginalised. The party is committed to that cause and is striving to make our late leader’s dream come true. The christening of our new office building after him will encourage our supporters and us to work for the poor,” said Vinod Singh, a CPI(ML) legislator representing Bagoder, the constituency earlier held by his father.

Left leaders who were present on the occasion included state secretary of CPM G.S. Majumdar, CPM farmers wing’s state head Praful Linda and senior CPI leader Khagendra Thakur among others. A large number of CPI(ML) leaders and workers from across the state also attended the event.

“We will also set up a library that will treasure works of Mahendra Singh as well as other literatures. It will serve as knowledge storehouse,” said Janardan Prasad, state secretary of CPI(ML).

Singh was widely acknowledged as the bold and assertive parliamentary voice from the street. His speeches in the Assembly used to be dreaded by ruling parties as he fearlessly exposed the state government’s failure to work for the downtrodden.

His collection of poems, Keemat Chukati Zindagi, highlighted the plight of those people who lived and died, struggling for a better life. Another work, Umeedein, also contained poems on the hopes of the poor besides including speeches that he presented in the Assembly.