Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that West Bengal needs strong industrial revival, better job opportunities and transparent governance to regain its economic strength and realise its full potential. The Assam chief minister made the remarks while speaking about the economic condition of West Bengal and its development trajectory over the years. In a post shared on social media platform X, Sarma said the state was once among the country’s leading centres of intellectual, cultural and industrial growth, but over time it lost much of its economic momentum. Referring to the legacy of noted personalities from Bengal, Sarma said the state had once produced some of India’s most respected thinkers and national leaders, including Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda. He said the state had historically played a major role in shaping India’s intellectual and economic landscape.
However, Sarma claimed that the state gradually witnessed industrial decline and slower economic growth over several decades. He blamed the situation on the long period of rule under the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front government. According to him, the prolonged political environment during that period affected industrial expansion, discouraged fresh investments and reduced employment opportunities for people in the state.The Assam chief minister further alleged that the situation did not improve significantly even after the change in government in the state. He claimed that despite political changes, West Bengal has continued to struggle in attracting large-scale industrial investments and generating enough employment opportunities for its growing population. Sarma said West Bengal still has strong advantages that can help it become an important economic hub once again. He pointed to the state’s strategic geographical location, its connectivity with the northeastern region and neighbouring countries, as well as access to ports and trade routes. According to him, these factors provide West Bengal with major opportunities for trade, manufacturing and industrial growth.
He said that for the state to move forward, there is a need for stable policies, transparent governance and an environment that encourages industries and businesses to invest. He added that creating jobs for the youth should remain one of the top priorities for any government aiming to strengthen the economy.The Assam chief minister also stressed that industrial development is necessary not only for economic growth but also for improving the overall standard of living of people. He said large-scale investments and industrial expansion can help create employment opportunities across different sectors and support long-term development. Sarma’s remarks have once again brought attention to the political debate over development, industrialisation and governance in West Bengal. The state has often remained at the centre of discussions related to industrial decline, unemployment and investment challenges, especially in comparison to its earlier reputation as one of India’s major industrial and commercial centres.
