Left's great expectations

KOLKATA: With just a day to go before the new government takes office, the outgoing Left Front ministers are waiting eagerly along with the West Bengal residents to watch the steps that the Trinamool Congress will take in the next five years to implement its promises mentioned in the assembly election manifesto.
The outgoing ministers are also curious to see which Trinamool MLAs get a berth in the Mamata’s cabinet and who gets which portfolio.
Most felt that the road to progress will be incomplete if the new state government focuses only on industry. Unless living standards of the rural population improves markedly, development will be lopsided and the huge faith reposed in Mamata Banerjee will fall flat.
“A separate policy needs to be framed for improving rural infrastructure - potable water, jobs, health, education besides road and electricity. The outgoing Left Front government did a lot but much more is left to be done. I hope the new government is able to fill in the blanks,” said Abdur Rezzak Mollah, senior CPM leader and outgoing minister for land and land reforms.
Mollah is known as a rebel within the CPM and his criticism of “excesses” like the land acquisition in Singur and the police firing at Nandigram had often left his party red-faced.
Asked what land acquisition policy the new government should follow, Mollah said, “I am eagerly waiting for the bill that will soon be placed in the Parliament. Since the TMC is a partner in UPA II, the bill will also reflect the party’s view.”
Almost negating the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government’s thrust on the IT sector, a large number of ministers felt that the new government should focus on core industries like petrochemicals besides medium and small scale industries.
“The IT sector does not generate jobs at the rate that the core sector does. The priority should be job creation,” advised a minister.
Almost on these lines, senior RSP leader and outgoing PWD minister Kshiti Goswami feels that a clear industrial policy is needed. It should include a land map demarcating land that can be acquired for industry. The state government should acquire such land and create a land bank.
“The industrial policy should be balanced so that agriculture is not affected. Bengal has been able to reach a certain height in crops and vegetables that can only be improved through proper land distribution among landless farmers, a rehabilitation policy for dislodged farmers, a marketing chain for agricultural produce and a cold chain,” he advised. Outgoing finance minister Asim Dasgupta is planning to hold a press conference in a couple of days. “I have some things to say. I am making a note of these. You will know these at the media conference,” he said.
The ringtone of outgoing housing minister Gautam Deb very significantly hummed Harry Belafonte’s Jamaica Farewell. “Yes, I am waiting for the new government to take oath on May 20 and announce its policies. Only then will I be able to make out whether their charter matches my expectations,” he said. Surya Kanta Mishra, who is one of the Left Front ministers to have won the election, cannot wait to meet the new government in the Assembly.
“I have read their election manifesto and will keep a close watch on whether they live up to these promises. Let them declare their policies. I will then face them in the Assembly!” said the outgoing health minister.