Mamata tries for good package from Plan panel

Despite the political brinkmanship that she has indulged in with the Congress, Chief Minister is pulling out all stops to garner a better deal from the planning commission. To that effect, officers of different departments of the state government have started meeting with officers of the Planning Commission in New Delhi. Sources said that the Commission’s advisor on West Bengal was present at the meeting.

Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh and Additional Chief Secretary Jaya Dasgupta, who is secretary to the Planning and Implementation department, will discuss issues with Commission’s higher officials on Tuesday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also meet Deputy Chairman of the Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Tuesday afternoon as well.

Usually the state’s Finance Minister Dr. Amit Mitra and Minister for Planning and Implementation Manish Gupta would deal with Planning Commission. However, to give bengal a better chance to getting a better deal, particularly in rural development sector as the state is heading towards a Panchayat election, more ministers are accompany her. Apart from Mitra and Gupta, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Subrata Mukherjee is accompanying her for Tuesday's meeting with Ahluwalia.

Sources in state head quarters indicate, the Planning Commission is ready to provide Rs 23,300 crores for the state against the CM’s demand of nearly Rs 24,500 crore. Mamata Banerjee wants her ministers to pursue the case and clinch the deal. But, the partners of the ruling coalition are not in good terms and Mamata has antagonised the state Congress leaders time and again. How far that affects Plan Commission’s decision is to be seen, says a source in the state’s Finance Department.