CPI(M) sees mischief in 'Brand Buddha'

Kolkata, May 26 (UNI) Even as the media exalts him as the 'pro-reforms poster boy' of the CPI(M), Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's party has no reason but to be hostile to the 'plot' to make a brand out of the West Bengal Chief Minister.

'' The way the media describes him as brand Buddha is nothing but an attempt to spoil him, '' CPI(M) State Secretary Bose Basu today said.

In an apparent indication that the party refused to accept Mr Bhattacharjee as the solo player for the spurt in investment and development of infrastructure in the state, Mr Bose insisted that a consistent effort of the Left Front over the new industrial policy adopted in 1991 had made a possible turnaround of West Bengal.

Mr Bhattacharjee was made the Chief Minister in 2001 after his predecessor stepped down.

'' The media is propping him up only to throw him down at a point of time, '' he said in reply to a question over the Chief Minister fast becoming a darling of industrialists and being touted as the 'Deng-Xiao-Ping' of West Bengal.

He alleged that the media was not playing a constructive role and it did not deserve any praise.

As Mr Bhattacharjee steals the national limelight for an image makeover of West Bengal and attracting beholden investors, Mr Bose was of a different opinion : '' Investors are coming here only because they will make profits. It is not because they have a special love for the state or any individual. '' The stability of the Left Front Government, the law and order situation, the geographical location of the state and the people's increased purchasing capacity were the reasons for the investors making the state a destination, Mr Bose observed.

Trying to drive home the that point the role of the party could not be diluted by the aura of the Chief Minister, he said the state kickstarted the development since 1991 with the gradual flow of industrial investment, expansion of agricultural land and greater road connectivity.

''The time that one used to take to travel from one place to the other has reduced because of much improved road connectivity and the total size of agricultural plot has increased by 1.2 million hectare between 1991 and 2001 despite acquiring land for industries.

This has been made possible because we have been able to convert a vast tract of infertile land into fertile, '' he said.

He stressed that there was a need for striking a balance between agriculture and industry and the Front Government would see that the 'people's interest' was not affected in the haste for promoting industry.

UNI KDG SJC YA GC1824