The West Bengal government has initiated steps to publish a comprehensive White Paper detailing alleged corruption and financial irregularities during the tenure of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The first meeting of a specially constituted Group of Ministers (GoM) is scheduled to be held at Nabanna on Thursday.
The move follows repeated allegations by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over corruption during its years in power. During the first phase of the recently concluded Budget Session of the Assembly, the government formally announced its decision to bring out a White Paper documenting these alleged irregularities.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had earlier stated that financial mismanagement and corruption during the 15-year rule of the previous government would be systematically identified and presented through an official document.
Formation of Group of Ministers
Earlier this month, the state cabinet constituted a high-level GoM to spearhead the process. The committee is headed by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, with Industries Minister Tapas Roy and senior leader Dilip Ghosh serving as members.
Political observers note that the structure of this committee mirrors the Group of Ministers system used during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Centre.
According to sources at Nabanna, the state secretariat, the meeting will focus on finalising the roadmap for drafting the White Paper. Discussions are expected to include methodologies for data collection, identification of key areas of inquiry, and coordination with various government departments to gather relevant documents and evidence.
Officials indicated that a preliminary report will be submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office following the meeting. The White Paper will be made public only after receiving formal approval.
Scope of the White Paper
The proposed document aims to present a fact-based account of administrative decisions, financial management, and governance practices under the previous regime. It is expected to address issues ranging from alleged corruption and fiscal irregularities to concerns related to public services such as healthcare and women’s safety.
In political discourse, a White Paper is an official government document presenting verified data and analysis to ensure transparency. However, it is also often used by incumbent governments to highlight alleged failures of their predecessors.
State Government’s stand
Since assuming office, Adhikari has reiterated a “zero-tolerance” stance on corruption. Addressing the media after a recent Assembly session, he stated that properties allegedly acquired through illicit means could be brought under legal scrutiny and potentially repurposed for public welfare.
Reaffirming the government’s position during his Budget speech, Finance Minister Dasgupta had said the White Paper would provide a detailed account of financial irregularities during the previous administration. The GoM is now expected to consolidate findings across departments to produce what the government describes as a comprehensive and evidence-based report.