Left Front may induct outside talent in Bengal cabinet

SUNIL MUKHOPADHYAY

The people of West Bengal have provided Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who is all set to continue as chief minister for the next five years, with a new canvas to paint a completely new portrait of the state — vibrant, and industrially and agriculturally developed.

He has with him the support of more than two-third members of the new state assembly (out of the 294-member state assembly, 199 belong to the ruling Left Front) and 49 per cent of the popular vote—a good canvas indeed. What Mr Bhattacharjee now needs is imagination, artistic sense and foresight, supported by good brushes and colours—an effective cabinet and efficient bureaucracy.

And to add colour, many believe that Mr Bhattacharjee needs to induct outside talent and fresh blood in the new cabinet which is scheduled to take oath on Friday. Sources indicated that the issue of such inductions was likely to be considered at the meeting of the politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the major constituent of the Left Front, in New Delhi.

Induction of outside talent is nothing new for the West Bengal ministry led by CPI(M). Ashok Mitra, the noted economist, and Shankar Sen (professor of electrical engineering and Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University) were not members of the party when they became finance and power ministers, respectively. However, this time the issue is being considered with added seriousness.

There were rumours before the elections that Asim Dasgupta, finance minister in the last cabinet, may be replaced by Nirupam Sen, a CPI)M) strongman from its stronghold, Burdwan. It is expected that Dr Dasgupta, who has a Ph.D from Harvard and teaches economics at Calcutta University, will continue as finance minister and Mr Sen may get the home (police) department so far held by Mr Bhattacharjee himself.

Dr Dasgupta was not popular among his cabinet colleagues as his purse strings were very tight. His problem was that state finances had very limited flexibility. Almost 90 per cent of the budgets of many departments, like education, were going towards paying salaries.

Hence, investments in development work became a casualty. This situation can now be tackled either by pruning manpower or by improving revenue generation. Both the propositions seem almost impossible in the immediate future as the Left Front, which claim to be a champion of the working people, cannot opt for government job cuts.

The state government’s major source of revenue generation is sales tax. Considering the level of growth in the state, the scope for increasing revenue via sales tax is very limited.

The CPI(M) brass can hardly afford to ignore these factors while selecting the new finance minister. Those who support Dr Dasgupta’s return as finance minister argue that he would at least be able to manage the tight state finances and bring in some fiscal flexibility.

The Left Front has come to power in the state for the sixth consecutive term and CPI(M) has had an absolute majority in the last five terms. Many allege that this has led to a sort of high-handed attitude among CPI(M) members at all levels. This time the electorate seems to have given the party a signal of caution which is evident in fact that the party is slightly short of the magic figure with 144 seats, although all the other constituents, the Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Communist Party of India could increase their seats.

This time, a change in the attitude of CPI(M) leaders, including Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, is clearly visible. They are saying that the victory is of the Front. Mr Bhattacharjee has gone even further by saying: “We want to work in close cooperation with the constituents as well as with the Opposition for the development of the state.”

He has created such an image for himself in last six months that people have started believing that he is a doer. If he succeeds, which also depends on the attitude of the Opposition, it would create a completely new climate in the state and help attract investments.

The people of West Bengal have also voted against the non-performers. Two important ministers, health minister Partha Dey and public works development minister Kshiti Goswami paid the penalty for deterioration of the health system and road conditions. Mr Goswami, incidentally, had complained publicly about Mr Dasgupta’s refusal to release money for road repairs. This is not to suggest that all other ministers who won performed well.

However, it is likely that Subhas Chakraborty, the transport and sports minister in the outgoing cabinet and a known adversary of the chief minister, will get the health department.

Although the Left Front has achieved a thumping victory this time, too, many in the ruling coalition, including in the CPI(M), consider it to be mandate against the inconsistency shown by Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress leader, an aspirant for the chief minister’s post. If this feeling in the coalition is sincere, it is likely that the new cabinet will strive for rapid industrialisation, consolidate growth in agricultural production and provide a clean administration.