Mamata Banerjee to chair industry meet today

CM wants to send out a message to Bengal Inc that Partha’s arrest will not cast any shadow on the government’s investment push

Partha Chatterjee. : File picture

Pranesh Sarkar   |   TT  |  Calcutta   |    28.07.22 : Mamata Banerjee is set to chair a meeting of the West Bengal Industrial Promotion Board for the first time on Thursday amid murmurs that the chief minister wants to send out a message to Bengal Inc that the arrest of industries minister Partha Chatterjee will not cast any shadow on the government’s investment push.

“Normally, the meeting of the industrial promotion board is held at an interval of three-four months. But this particular meeting is significant as the industries minister will not be present for the first time since the board was set up in August, 2021,” said a senior government official.

According to sources, the board was set up by including ministers and officials of the departments like public works, power; and fire and emergency services after the Trinamul Congress came to power for the third consecutive time in 2021.

“So far, the industries department and the WBIDC (West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation) took

most of the responsibilities to hold the meetings of the board. But this time, the active participation of the chief minister’s office is visible to make the meeting successful. The board’s meetings were so far conducted at Nabanna Sabhaghar but tomorrow’s session will be at Soujanya at Alipore, where only top-priority meetings of the chief minister are held,” said a source.

Sources aware of the development said Mamata had taken up the responsibility to run the industries department, at least for the time being, in the absence of Chatterjee.

“Ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls, she had promised to generate 1.5 crore jobs. She announced repeatedly that her government was laying stress on industries to generate jobs. The chief minister doesn’t want her efforts to get affected by any other developments,” said a source.

A section of senior officials said it might not be possible for Mamata to look after the industries department on a daily basis as she directly handles several other portfolios like home, health, land and land reforms.

“Chatterjee may not be divested of the industries charge until he is proved guilty, but there is definitely a plan to appoint somebody to run the day-to-day affairs of the department. Discussions are on to bring in Amit Mitra to a position from where he can look after the affairs of the department,” said a senior government official.

While being taken to the ED office after a medical test on Wednesday, Chatterjee was asked by reporters if he would resign. “What’s the reason?” he asked, before entering the ED office.

The government had removed former chief secretary Rajiva Sinha from the post of chairperson of the WBIDC about a month ago. The secretary of the industry department, Vandana Yadav, was made the new chairperson.

“It was the first time that the department secretary was given the charge of the WBIDC. At that time, it was discussed that the responsibility was given to the secretary on a temporary basis. Now, it appears that Amit Mitra can be easily made the chairperson of the WBIDC,” said a source.

The sources pointed out Mitra was currently looking after the day-to-day affairs of the finance department as an advisor to the chief minister. All files of the finance department are now routed through Mitra after the government issued an order to this effect.

“Similar arrangements are likely to be made for the industries department. Mitra is already assisting the chief minister on the industries-related affairs. Mitra had taken the pivotal role in organising the Bengal Global Business Summit this year,” said an official.