|
| BJD, Left pact worries industry leaders |
| BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar Mar 25, 2009, 00:03 IST |
|
With the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Orissa deciding to enter into seat sharing arrangement with the Left parties in the run up to the Assembly polls, business leaders in the state are divided over the future of mega industrial projects in the possibility of the Left being a part of the post-poll coalition government.
Most of the mega projects in the state including those proposed by South Korean steel major Posco, Tata Steel, Vedanta, and Arcelor-Mittal are unable to make progress on the ground due to the Left-backed local opposition in various parts of the state.
Some industry leaders believe that the Left’s influence on policy making and industrialisation would be negligible even if it is a part of the ruling alliance in Orissa as the Left parties are expected to barely win a handful of assembly seats.
Others feel that the Left parties are unpredictable and they may back or oppose the mega industrial projects depending on their political agenda in the state.
Gauri Sankar Dash, secretary general, Orissa Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (OASME), said, “If the Left becomes a part of the ruling coalition in Orissa, it would spell the doom for the state’s industrial progress. The Left parties would make all efforts to stall the big industrial projects and also lend instability to the government.”
Niranjan Mohanty, president, Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) said, “It is difficult to predict on the stance to be taken by the Left parties if they are a part of a ruling alliance in Orissa. While the Left backs the industrial projects in West Bengal where it is in power, it has opposed the mega industrial projects in other states where it is in the opposition.”
The Left would pitch for a common minimum programme with whichever party it forges an alliance, he added. R K Jena, vice-chairman, Orissa State Council of CII and managing director, Balasore Alloys Limited said, “Even if the Left becomes a part of any ruling alliance in Orissa, it can only have a negligible impact on the state’s industrial progress as the Left is unlikely to be a dominant player in the alliance. The CII does not foresee any threat to the mega industrial projects in the event of the Left becoming a part of the ruling alliance.”
Asked if the Left being a partner of ruling alliance would dent Orissa’s investor friendly image, he said, “Orissa would continue to be an investor friendly state even if the Left parties are a part of the ruling alliance. The state would continue to attract investors and the political combinations in power can hardly make any substantial difference.”
One IT sector official said, “Going by the prevailing public perception in Orissa, the BJD is likely to stage a comeback to power. Even if the BJD forges an alliance with the Left parties, they would have a limited say in the industrial policy issues as their numbers would be limited in the assembly”.
The agenda of the Communist parties is unpredictable and they can either support or oppose industrial projects for the sake of coming to power, he added. Bijoy K Sahoo, president, Confederation of Information Technology Enterprises, Orissa, said, “If the BJD forges an alliance with the Left parties and the alliance comes to power, then it is the BJD which will have the dominant say in all policy matters of the state. Given the BJD’s clout in Orissa, the impact of the Left parties would hardly be felt.”
It is tough to predict the Left’s agenda if it is a part of a ruling alliance in Orissa and we can only have a wait and watch approach on this issue, said Abhijit Sen, centre head, Infosys Technologies (Bhubaneswar) and convener, CII-ICT panel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Read Business news in |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertisements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Content Guide
