Partha Bhattacharya's HPL post subject to govt nod

The present chairman of Coal India Partha Bhattacharya, going to retire shortly, would accept the post of Managing Director of Haldia Petrochemicals (HPL) provided it was acceptable to the West Bengal government.

"He had got an indication from one of the principal promoters Purnendu Chatterjee to take charge of HPL following retirement of present incumbent," a source close to the development told PTI.

Given the strained relations between the two principal promoters, Chatterjee and the West Bengal government, it was unlikely that he would accept the post if the latter did not communicate its acceptance about Bhattacharya taking over as the MD of HPL.

"The West Bengal government will have to communicate to him that he is acceptable to them", the source said.

The HPL board had set up a search committee for selecting the MD following which Bhattacharya and M B Lal, former chairman of HPCL were leading the race.