Budddhadeb Bhattacharjee A communist leader open to reforms!
Does the mention of Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping remind you of an Indian very similar to him in his endeavors? You have got it right. It’s the West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee we are talking about. This Marxist poet has transformed the business prospects in West Bengal but at the same time has been a bone of contention for all his opposition parties. Just like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he is popularly known to be “the right man in the wrong party.” His biggest asset proved to be his clean image, which helped him lead the Left Front to a 7th consecutive term in 2006 Assembly Elections. Bhattacharjee took over as the Bengal CM on November 6, 2000. Since then the man has made judicious and whole hearted efforts to lead the highly socialism-infested state of Bengal on the path of economic reforms. It is only due to the dedicated efforts of Buddhadeb that Kolkata has now joined an influx of Indian firms in computer services, manufacturing and steelmaking.
He is generally seen as a Communist leader who is open to reforms. However, his opponents have criticized him for taking farmlands to build industries. Bhattacharya said in return, that these farmlands were not so productive and they will provide better jobs to many poor people. Recently Bhattacharya said that he does not want to unionize the IT industry. Labour unions of Bengal have criticized this decision saying that this will lead to the exploitation of IT workers. He has also been opposed by his comrades for denouncing Bandhs. Replying to a query at an interactive session in Kolkata on August 26, Bhattacharjee was reported to have said, “I am against bandhs. Unfortunately, I belong to a political party, which calls bandhs. I have kept quiet. But, from now on, I’ll not keep quiet…. Gherao is illegal and immoral. It is our contribution to the English language. It will not be allowed in the state.”
Mr Bhattacharjee is amongst those leaders who preach socialism while practising capitalism. He says, “We have to formulate our policies within this structure.” And given the reality of West Bengal’s wrecked economy, there is much to be done. “For many years, there were problems. We made some mistakes,” he says. “Now we want investment.”
This modest politician, with shining eyes and breathy chain-smoker’s voice enthuses on topics from agri-business to consumerism. Azim Premji, the chairman of Wipro, a big computer-services company, has called Mr Bhattacharjee India’s best chief minister. The prime minister, Manmohan Singh, agrees.
India desperately needs more leaders like Mr Bhattacharjee, who is a talented administrator, even if his political views remain enigmatic.
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