West Bengal's new BJP government has committed to implementing comprehensive land and data centre policies within 100 days of taking office to attract investment and revive industrial growth in the state. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya announced that investors are ready to come to West Bengal but are waiting for specific policy frameworks. Speaking to members of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Bhattacharya emphasized that "there is an aspiration now that economic activities will be taking place in West Bengal. At this crucial point of time, we have to deliver something to you. You are free to do your business. There will be no obstruction, there will be no hindrance, there will be no extortion. We are going to formulate new laws for you to protect the business community."
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 9, the government is actively working to formulate a new data centre policy that should bring significant new investment to the state. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, Bhattacharya assured the business community that "within the first 100 days, the business community would feel the change" with the new government in place. The BJP's historic victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this month ended the Trinamool Congress's 15-year rule in the state. Last week, the State BJP president met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at her residence in New Delhi and discussed ways to boost Bengal's economy and industry, with Sitharaman expressing interest in setting up a textile hub in the state. Bhattacharya also highlighted the Centre's focus on the state, stating "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen to do something extraordinary in the holy land of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo."
Bhattacharya has issued a stern warning against party members engaging in extortion activities, stating "If anyone carrying a BJP flag demands money at your factory gate, inform us immediately. Their place will be either in jail or a police lock-up." According to The Hindu BusinessLine, he emphasized that "We cannot eradicate everything overnight, but the BJP will never tolerate the syndicate culture, and the government will take decisive action against wrongdoers." During the Bharat Chamber of Commerce event, Bhattacharya assured business leaders that "You people focus on doing business. I assure you there will be no hindrance, no obstruction, and no extortion. We are formulating a new law explicitly designed to protect the business community. That is our singular objective."
The new government is developing a comprehensive data policy expected to be ready within three months that will provide a regulatory and investment framework for sectors including data centres, artificial intelligence, cloud services and digital infrastructure. According to Devdiscourse, the proposed policy will set guidelines for data management, storage and security while creating an enabling framework for investments in data centres, AI and other emerging technology sectors in West Bengal. This policy framework addresses the previous administration's approach where companies had to purchase land directly from farmers, which Bhattacharya described as "not possible unless the government has a comprehensive land policy."
Addressing the land acquisition challenges that have long plagued industrial development, Bhattacharya highlighted the need for a comprehensive land policy. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, 82 per cent of the cultivated land is owned by small farmers, creating significant barriers for large-scale industrial projects. The BJP is considering implementing a land-for-land policy, which has been successful in Punjab, Maharashtra and Haryana. Currently, if a company wants to set up a business in Bengal, it has to purchase land directly from farmers, which Bhattacharya described as "not possible unless the government has a comprehensive land policy." He pointed out that "the entire land is fragmented. It is not possible for any investor to come to the State and knock on every door of commerce." The government is also planning changes to the land ceiling policy, with results expected to be visible in the coming months. Bhattacharya informed that many semiconductor companies have already contacted the new government to invest in the state, with investors awaiting the new land policy.
Bhattacharya clarified the operational boundaries between the BJP party and the new government under Chief Minister Adhikari. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, he emphasized that "the 'modus operandi' of the government would be decided by the chief minister and the Council of Ministers," while the party can only provide suggestions. This distinction ensures that "there should be a difference between the party and the government" in decision-making processes. Bhattacharya also sought to address concerns about the BJP's approach, stating "The BJP has come to power in the state with a thumping majority, but now it is the government of West Bengal and not a BJP government." He urged industry leaders to invest in the state, emphasizing that "Today, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are new investment destinations. Bengal's image on the global stage is very poor." The state administration will collaborate closely with the Centre to design targeted fiscal incentives to draw businesses back to West Bengal, with Bhattacharya noting that "We are living in an over-politicised society, and we must change that. The party cannot do this alone; we need every section of civil society to work alongside us."
