Saugata quits as CM adviser - Times of India

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy has put in his papers as adviser to the chief minister on industrial policy, but his resignation is yet to be accepted, say sources. The veteran leader has had differences of opinion with party supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee, especially over land for industries, but the trigger seems to have been something quite innocuous. Mamata's reservations about Roy using his designation in his letterhead could have hurt the Trinamool MP, known for his independent opinions, said a source close to the CM secretariat. Roy is keeping quiet, neither confirming nor denying reports that he has resigned. Earlier, he had stirred a controversy by remarking that due importance should be given to leaders who joined the party before 2009, rather than those who climbed aboard during its upswing. Late on Wednesday evening, Roy said he did not know anything abou t his reported resignation. On Thursday, he could not be contacted over the phone. Another Trinamool MP said Roy was busy in Lok Sabha throughout the day and that he had spoken with the CM over phone on Wednesday. "I have no information that Saugata Roy has resigned," industries minister Partha Chatterjee said at Writers' Buildings. Roy's views on the state's industrial policy and the limitations of availability of land could have irked the CM, sources say. As of now Roy had not overtly criticized Mamata's hands-off on land acquisition. An element of rivalry between Roy and Partha Chatterjee could also have made the MP's position difficult, the industries minister being a blue-eyed boy of the chief minister, say sources. According to a Trinamool MP, Chatterjee largely ignored Roy's advice, though the minister has denied any differences with Roy. "He is a senior member of the party and we have no differences with him," Chatterjee said. But according to sources, an industrial policy drawn up by Roy, with emphasis on agri-based and small industries, has been gathering dust at Writers' Buildings. While addressing industry and trade bodies in recent months, Roy has mentioned that an industrial policy for Bengal would have to lay emphasis on small and medium industries because it is difficult to find land for big industries, since the government is averse to any role in land acquisition. Chatterjee, on the other hand, has maintained that land is available for big as well as small industries. Observers say Roy's views on land could be construed to imply that it was difficult for big industries to acquire land on their own, which would be contrary to the CM's stand that industrialists should buy land on their own. Though Roy has remained incommunicado, among senior Trinamool leaders and well-wishers of the Mamata Banerjee government there are people who believe that the government is lacking a sense of direction, who say that the government has not yet been able to put in place an industrial policy, not even one in keeping with its own election manifesto. As a senior Triniamool leader had commented lately: "In the long run, there is no substitute to popularity gained through development and good governance." In the past, Roy had been critical of the Trinamool line on issues like student politics and attacks on teachers. But an observer pointed out that such differences might not be reason enough for an open rebellion, as, in about a year's time, he would have to contest the Lok Sabha election to retain his Dum Dum seat. Also, there are instances of differences in the party having been patched up - the saga of assembly chief whip Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, for instance. via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEqE8ypuEi_sepXUPvvvwEm4fbMFw&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Saugata-quits-as-CM-adviser/articleshow/18857356.cms

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