Winning the Assembly election in West Bengal is like reaching the base camp of a precipitous climb ahead. The complex and arduous task of bringing back civilised normalcy in the state after 50 years of audacious flouting of democratic norms and constitutional provisions is herculean. More so since the expectations are skyhigh. The path ahead for the new BJP government in West Bengal is prickly to say the least. In 2011, the state elected Mamata Banerjee hoping for a change. Instead people had appalling experience. Along with it suffered the nation as a whole. 2026 brings in a new opportunity for change in the right direction.
When the task is complex it needs a competent leader, careful planning and constant monitoring. Problems have to be identified and addressed swiftly. To begin with, even before the government formation BJP is saddled with the issue of attack on political opponents. Despite the party leaders repeatedly warning workers not to indulge in violence as also asking police to never let culprits go unpunished the initial few days have seen many untoward instances. Peaceful handover of power, not merely in the state capital but also in all habitations, is a necessity for the new BJP government. Failure to do so will be viewed as a blot for the national leadership of BJP.
The primary task is to put an end to extortion rackets run everywhere in West Bengal. Such extortionists—tolabaaj as they are known—wave a party flag and demand payment for everything. One cannot rent out or renovate a property, sell it, run a shop without paying them. This must end forthwith—but it is easier said than done. Unless BJP government is successful in doing away with tolabaaj economy it will not come back in the next election, so important is the issue.
Linked with this step is cleansing the corruption in administration and policing system of the state. Only such vigilance can stop a tolabaaj society. Equally critical is to generate employment opportunity for these people. They need to earn their livelihood, away from the business of extortion. This is a challenging task and needs minute socioeconomic planning. The large number of such disguised unemployed working age population have to be provided proper skill education and gainful occupation. Another task easier suggested than implemented.
Education in the state from primary to post graduate level has been so ignored and corrupted that even teaching staff must be re-educated. Vacant posts have to be filled up pending their reskilling. Two-step action is required—fill up vacancies urgently so that education sector is properly manned and then pay attention to suitable reskilling centres for the teaching staff. This will ease the immediate pressure of job creation also.
Healthcare is another mismanaged area in the state. Hospitals are mostly dens of corruption. The system cannot be cleansed merely by offering Ayushman Bharat or setting up of an AIIMS in North Bengal. Administering the entire healthcare framework, keeping in mind the requirements of the elderly and poor, is a herculean task which cannot be left for tomorrow.
Farmers are perhaps the most neglected lot in the state. Potato growers, rice cultivators or even vegetable growers do not receive remunerative price and often enough are cheated by middlemen. Mere offering PM-KISAN liberally will not address this issue. The government is coming at a time when season has ended for potato farmers and same with mango. Assisting them for the next season with funds and providing marketing assistance with safeguard from middlemen will be another crying need. The beginning of the kharif season will test the resolve of the new administration. Rice growers require protection from flood, drought and likely high cost of fertilizer due to Iran war. As also they need post harvesting assistance. Another tough task for the new government.
West Bengal has a problem of alcohol consumption, particularly among the young. Mamata administration encouraged it, dependent as it became on collection of excise duty. This is a social evil, and a very morbid process of managing the economy. Even at the cost of some fiscal loss the BJP government has to address this evil. The other issue is high vat collection from petroleum products. This must also be reduced at the cost of fiscal loss.
While tackling these issues the political necessity is to pay the increased doles, promised to women and unemployed youth in the party’s manifesto. Cleansing the entertainment industry from the clutches of certain factions, providing free atmosphere for art, culture and literature to thrive, offering media freedom, politics free academics are necessary to win goodwill of people. At the same time, the woeful condition of state’s infrastructure must be addressed. The newly elected members of the Assembly need to be coached in modern, vibrant democratic governance—a crying necessity since they all are brought up amidst the morass of political muscle flexing prevailing in the state. The new leaders must keep a careful eye on every party functionary so that they also do not indulge in the raising easy money culture.
Investment from industry and business will not come overnight. They will watch carefully the performance of the government. Meanwhile, the centrally funded projects, like erecting fences in the border, setting up of promised institutions like IIT, AIIMS etc., developing railway links, fast tracking Metro works even outside Kolkata, creating tourism circuit and such activities will improve flow of funds into the state.
The major issue of a huge pile of debt will keep the state government in a tight rope. While the Centre cannot offer special relief but the “double engine” rule may explore options within the rulebook.
- Sugato Hazra is a political analyst.
