In what was his first foray to the north since being sworn in, Adhikari put the area at the top of West Bengal’s policy agenda. He made no bones about the fact that this part of the state has been a steady backer of the BJP and the Prime Minister, and he intends to make sure governance is in step with local wishes.
Political backdrop and reactions
“North Bengal has been let down by past administrations,” said Raju Bista, the MP from the region. “But now we are free of the TMC’s misrule and will have our dignity and our development.”
Weekly outreach to fast-track projects
To make sure there are no loose ends, the Chief Minister has put in place a system where ministers from the north will hold Janata Darshan every week. The idea is to be on top of grievances, check on works in progress and close any gaps without delay.
Here is what the government says will happen next on outreach:
– Weekly Janata Darshan by regional ministers
– Direct interaction with citizens on grievances
– Regular review of ongoing projects
– Coordination with local administration
– Monitoring of scheme implementation
Big-ticket institutions promised
When you ask him about the institutions he has put forward, Adhikari is firm: they will come. An AIIMS, an IIT, a cancer hospital. Put them in place and you not only give the region better access to top-tier education and care, but you also mean people don’t have to make the long trip for oncology treatment.
There is a sense of occasion on the ground as well. In Siliguri, where the town was put in its best attire for his arrival, party men were in high spirits. “You can feel the excitement,” said MLA Bishal Lama. “People who have felt short-changed are looking for a change of pace.”
Earlier at Bagdogra Airport, Adhikari told the press that the government would be on top of monitoring to see that the manifesto doesn’t just stay words on paper. And with 207 seats to their name and the Trinamool’s 15-year hold over the state put to rest, the message from the new regime is one of delivery.
What comes next
State minister Dilip Ghosh has his own piece of the puzzle, with plans to bring Panchayat Raj to the hills and put in some much-needed infrastructure. But for now, all eyes are on the follow-through. How fast can the CM’s office move from the drawing board to the site? That is what will tell if the North Bengal push is for real.
