The West Bengal government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), plans to issue white papers detailing financial irregularities under the previous Trinamool Congress administration. State Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced this decision during a discussion on the state budget for the fiscal year 2026-27.
Dasgupta highlighted that these white papers will shed light on the reasons behind the substantial debt accumulated during the 15-year Trinamool rule from 2011 to 2026. Additionally, they will address the delays in executing crucial development projects in the state.
Economic experts view this move as part of the finance minister’s commitment to enhancing the state’s tax revenue by rectifying tax collection inefficiencies and combating corruption. The objective is to prevent the imposition of higher tax rates on the public for revenue enhancement purposes.
The state finance minister also revealed plans to present reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in the West Bengal Assembly, a practice overlooked during the previous administration. The release of these white papers aims not only to expose financial irregularities but also to hold accountable the departments responsible for addressing corruption issues.
Dasgupta emphasized that the transparency brought about by these white papers will keep the public informed about the government’s actions. The budget allocations in the previous budget were determined based on departments’ historical performances, particularly in fund utilization efficiency.
