BJP promises major industrial push in Bengal within 100 days
The Statesman | 26 May 2026
West Bengal BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya promised a major revival of industry and investment in the state within the next 100 days, claiming the new government is preparing “revolutionary steps” to reopen Bengal’s doors to large-scale investments. Speaking at an event organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata on Monday, Bhattacharya described the exit of several major corporate houses from West Bengal during the Left Front and Trinamul Congress regimes as “deeply unfortunate and shameful”.
He said that although the full Council of Ministers is yet to be formed, the new administration has already begun work on reviving Bengal’s industrial climate. Addressing industrialists and business leaders, Bhattacharya said, “Within the next 100 days, we are going to introduce such transformative measures in West Bengal’s industrial and manufacturing sectors that everyone will be compelled to praise the new government.” Seeking to reassure investors, the BJP leader said West Bengal had the potential to become one of India’s most investment-friendly states but failed to achieve that due to years of alleged mis-governance.
Referring to the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore and Syama Prasad Mukherjee, he said, “The state’s lost potential should be restored now through investor-friendly policies and strong legal safeguards for businesses.” Bhattacharya also said the government would soon introduce modern and stricter laws aimed at protecting industrialists and entrepreneurs. However, he added that rebuilding Bengal’s economy would require support not only from political leadership but also from intellectuals and the general public. Highlighting the condition of the MSME sector, he criticised the previous system of registering even small tea stalls and paan shops as MSMEs merely to inflate numbers.
According to him, the state now requires a stronger and more genuine MSME infrastructure along with a modern land policy to facilitate industrial growth. Comparing West Bengal with Maharashtra, Bhattacharya claimed that while Bengal once competed equally with Maharashtra in industry and economy, the situation has drastically changed. “Maharashtra currently attracts around 36 per cent of India’s total FDI, whereas Kolkata accounts for only around 0.6 per cent of direct foreign investment,” he said. He further claimed that the new “double-engine government” has prepared a large infrastructure blueprint to reverse the decline.
The BJP leader also criticised the alleged delay in developing the Ashoknagar oil exploration project in North 24 Parganas, blaming the previous government for lack of vision and infrastructure planning. Bhattacharya said investors were ready to invest heavily in Bengal earlier as well, but the previous government had failed to create a fair and fear-free environment for business. “This time, we are prepared,” he asserted. Raising concerns over North Bengal, he alleged that tourism and the tea industry in the region had suffered due to years of neglect and poor planning. He said tea garden workers and textile sector artisans have continued to struggle because of the absence of long-term development strategies.