Agartala, Sep 10 (IANS): In a unique move, leaders and members of the ruling CPI-M planted over 163,000 saplings across Tripura to mark the birth centenary of former chief minister Dasaratha Deb, a party official said on Thursday.

"During the past two-and-a-half months, our leaders and party members have planted over 163,000 saplings across Tripura as part of the centenary celebrations of Deb, a father figure for the communist movement in the north-eastern state," Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Bijan Dhar told reporters here.

Dhar, a CPI-M central committee member, said the plantation drive would continue till the end of the monsoon season.

Deb, who was chief minister of Tripura for five years from 1993 and state secretary of CPI-M Tripura committee during different periods, was one of the founding father of the communist base in Tripura.

The CPI-M is also organising fortnight-long state-wide sports competition from Thursday to mark the birth anniversary of Deb.