Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, December 3, 2024, Kolkata : In a bold move, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called for an increase in the state’s share of central tax revenue from the current 41% to 50%. Banerjee made this demand during a meeting with the Finance Commission at Nabanna on Tuesday. The Chief Minister argued that this increase would significantly enhance the state’s financial resources, enabling the government to better fund social welfare projects and infrastructure development.
The demand for a larger share of the central tax money is not unique to West Bengal. In a separate meeting, opposition leaders from various parties, including the CPM’s Mohammad Salim and BJP’s Shankar Ghosh, also voiced their support for the 50% share. The Finance Commission representatives, who met with both the Chief Minister and political party representatives on Tuesday, acknowledged that most states have raised similar requests for a higher percentage of the tax allocation. They confirmed that this matter is currently under investigation and will be discussed further with higher authorities.
In addition to the tax revenue issue, Banerjee also raised the topic of central arrears, highlighting the state’s pending dues in various sectors. She emphasized that the timely release of these funds would greatly benefit social development initiatives in West Bengal. However, the Finance Commission representatives clarified that their mandate is focused solely on tax revenue distribution and that issues related to central arrears fall outside their jurisdiction.
The meeting, which began around 12:30 pm, was attended by Chief Minister Banerjee and 12 of her Cabinet Ministers. In the afternoon, the Finance Commission held a separate session with political representatives from CPM and BJP, both of whom expressed support for the Chief Minister’s request for a 50% tax share. According to the Finance Commission, they have already visited 13 states and found that similar demands have been raised across the board. The representatives assured that they would present their findings and recommendations to higher authorities for further consideration.
As the debate over the state’s financial allocation continues, it remains to be seen how the central government will respond to the growing calls for an increased share of tax revenues. The outcome of this issue could have significant implications for West Bengal’s future development and its political landscape.