Swapan Dasgupta and Jagannath Chattopadhyay, journalist-turned-politicians, were assigned significant cabinet roles in the West Bengal government. Dasgupta, the new Finance Minister, aims to boost the state’s tax revenue without burdening the public with higher tax rates. He plans to enhance revenue collection without increasing existing tax rates, addressing concerns about the state’s limited tax sources.
The state’s previous reliance on State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) and state excise for revenue generation has been a point of contention among economists. Dasgupta’s focus on improving tax collection comes amidst financial challenges like a strained state exchequer and mounting debt. The upcoming budget session of the West Bengal Assembly, commencing on June 18, will see Dasgupta presenting the full budget on June 21.
Jagannath Chattopadhyay, appointed as the state’s Higher Education Minister, aims to reform the education system by combatting corruption prevalent during the previous administration. He also intends to elevate the state’s higher education standards by aligning with the national education policy. Chattopadhyay emphasizes the importance of transparency in recruitment processes to eliminate corruption and elevate West Bengal’s education sector.
