Financial condition of West Bengal can be improved: Mitra

KOLKATA: 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 April-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."