Kolkata, 18 April (H.S.) : Bharatiya Janata Party West Bengal President and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress government over the political, economic and social condition of the state, saying democratic institutions had weakened and people now wanted change.

Addressing a press conference at the Kolkata Press Club, Bhattacharya said that the 2011 change of power had come with promises of restoring democracy, but the situation had worsened over the last 15 years. According to him, the distinction between the administration and the ruling party had nearly vanished, while respect for constitutional institutions had declined.

Speaking on economic issues, he said the state’s debt burden had continued to rise, while capital expenditure was falling. He alleged that the absence of an industry-friendly environment had prevented the creation of new jobs. Incidents such as Singur and Nandigram, he said, had sent a negative message to the industrial sector.

Bhattacharya claimed that nearly 79,000 factories had shut down in the last 15 years and more than 1,000 companies were in the process of closure. He also alleged that several companies had shifted their headquarters to other states, leading to an outflow of talent, capital and labour.

Expressing concern over the agricultural sector, he said production was declining and farmers were facing serious hardship. He described the condition of potato growers as particularly alarming.

He further said that despite possessing immense potential, West Bengal was lagging behind due to the lack of proper policy and political will. According to him, the state’s geographical advantages, natural resources and human capital were not being utilised effectively.

On security and social issues, Bhattacharya described demographic changes and rising radicalisation as major challenges. He also accused the government of allowing a deterioration in law and order.

Referring to the upcoming Assembly elections, he said the contest would not be between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress, but between the people and the ruling party. He claimed that public anger would be reflected in the election results.

On the Women’s Reservation Bill, he said the BJP remained committed to women’s empowerment and was working for their advancement through various welfare schemes.

Regarding voter list purification, he said the process was necessary but had not been implemented properly in West Bengal.

Asked about the party’s chief ministerial face, Bhattacharya said the BJP contests elections on the basis of policy and ideals, and that the people themselves were the face of the party.

He said the party’s objective was to build a corruption-free, fear-free and development-oriented West Bengal. In conclusion, he appealed to the people of the state to vote for change in the interest of democracy and future generations.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh