Opposition parties in the state claim chief minister Jyoti Basu's government, "which was feeling the heat in this election," had made the fresh allotment of funds to "appease the much-deprived voters of rural Bengal."

According to the election code of conduct, a government cannot declare any developmental project after the announcement of the poll dates. The opposition groups, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleged the government had sanctioned more funds for the rural electrification project after realising that inthis election local issues would determine the lot of the parties.

The "poor" power situation in most parts of the state is one of the electoral planks of the BJP-Trinamool Congress combine. The power supply position in the state has for long been affected by infrastructure inadequacies.

According to official sources, the government has directed the West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB) to provide as many fresh connections as it could, even if that is to be done without installing meters for a temporary period. Denying allegations that it has breached any rule set by the Election Commission, the government claims that the additional funds were sanctioned before the commencement of the poll process in the state. The government directive was issued on September 6, a day before the issuance of the election notification marking the start of the poll process.

But the opposition parties claim the government had violated the code of conduct by sanctioning the additional funds after the announcement ofthe election date for the state.

According to a top official of the state Planning Department, the magistrates of the 16 districts would be responsible for spending the allotted funds. They would have to submit by December 31 the statement of accounts to the state Accountant General detailing the expenditure.

Meanwhile, the state government has also created controversy by reportedly levying sales tax on imported sugar though it has been prohibited by the Supreme Court and the state tax tribunal.

The government action is said to be forcing the people in West Bengal to buy sugar at a higher price than the rest of the country. But state Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta defended the action of the government, saying West Bengal imported a very small quantity of sugar and the tax levied did not make much difference in the sale price.

The issue has given another plank to the Trinamool Congress on which to fight the ruling Marxists. Trinamool criticised the state government for raising about Rs 4,000 crore byway of levying "unlawful tax". According to its senior leader Ajit Panja, the "issue will be suitably highlighted to let the masses know the the misdeeds of the Left Front government."

Dasgupta said his government had done nothing wrong as it had applied to the Finance Commission for permission to levy sales tax on sugar, both the imported and domestic varieties. He said the state had lost hundreds of billions of rupees during the last 42 years by not being able to levy sales tax on the commodity.

India Abroad News Service