Financial condition of West Bengal can be improved: Mitra

Kolkata, Mar 23: Trinamool Congress candidate Amit Mitra, who is an economist by training and is pitted against West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta in the Assembly polls, has said the state's financial condition can be improved with a flow of investments and expansion of existing industrial units.

One of the trump cards of the Trinamool Congress in the Apr-May Assembly polls, Mitra, fielded from Khardah constituency in North 24 Parganas district, said, "The state's bankruptcy can be turned around within a reasonable period of time under Mamata Banerjee's leadership through massive confidence building measures among all sections of society."

Mitra, who has taken leave of absence as secretary- general of FICCI to contest the Assembly polls, told PTI here that minimal capital expenditure made by the government over the years had led to this kind of bankruptcy.

"There will be a tectonic shift in the flow of investments and expansion of existing industrial units once the party comes to power in the state," he said.

He said there would be more flow of investments and expansion of existing units which would bring in more revenue to the government.

Mitra, who had spearheaded FICCI for the last 15 years in networking with government officials and industry, had been a major agent of policy change in agriculture, food processing, small business, education, health and vocational training.

Asked about his experience in working with Banerjee as chairman of the railway expert committee, Mitra said, "Seeing her vision and methodology of work, I am convinced that the change which we are all looking for in West Bengal can be achieved through her leadership."

"The best evidence comes from her manifesto released yesterday. No political party in the country had come out with a cogently argued critique of the misdoings of the CPI(M) misrule through hard empirical evidence," Mitra said.

He said, "No political manifesto has produced a list of deliverables in future with a time line." Asked what would be the agenda before the party if it came to power, Mitra said that restoration of confidence would be the major building block.

"Once the party-cadre rule is over, the people of West Bengal will get a democratic and people-centric government under Mamata Banerjee," he said.

He said that restoration of confidence would do two things. Firstly, it would result in enterprises which had left 20-30 years ago to come back. Secondly, the existing ones would feel charged and would subsequently plan growth and expansion, particularly in the SME sector.

When pointed out that West Bengal had been branded for militant trade unionism which had caused many companies to leave, Mitra said the manifesto clearly spelt out Mamata Banerjee''s approach towards a collaborative relationship between the management and the employees.

Asked about the reaction of myriad industrialists with whom he had closely interacted with during his stint at FICC, he said that it was a mixed one.

"Some were excited and welcomed the decision, and some saddened because if I win I will have to leave FICCI," he said.

"Anyway, I will leave FICCI and work for the party," he added.

PTI