Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has set a five-year target to bring Gujarat’s development model to West Bengal, saying the state should aim to achieve at least 50% of that goal within the period. He made the announcement on October 9 while speaking at a Seva Sankalp Abhiyan exhibition at the Indian Museum in Kolkata.
Adhikari referred to his recent visit to Gujarat and praised its development, describing the state as “like a well-drawn picture and a fairy-tale state”. He said West Bengal needed to move towards self-reliance after decades of rule by the Left and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
“We are working to transform it into a self-reliant state under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said, as reported by India Today.
Five-Year Target for West Bengal’s Development
Adhikari said West Bengal should work towards matching Gujarat’s development over the next five years, even if the state initially achieves only half of that objective.
The statement places development and self-reliance at the centre of the state government’s stated priorities. However, the announcement did not specify sector-wise targets, timelines or measurable indicators for comparing West Bengal’s progress with Gujarat.
Turning the goal into measurable outcomes would require progress across areas such as infrastructure, industrial investment, employment, public services and business development. Clear benchmarks would help assess how much progress the state makes during the five-year period.
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Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Exhibition in Kolkata
The Chief Minister made the remarks during the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan exhibition at Kolkata’s Indian Museum. The event provided the setting for his comments on the state’s development direction and the government’s aim to build a more self-reliant economy.
Adhikari said the state needed to strengthen public confidence in development initiatives and move beyond what he described as a pattern of dependence under previous governments.
The Gujarat model has frequently featured in discussions about industrial growth, infrastructure and investment. Adapting elements of another state’s development approach, however, would require consideration of West Bengal’s own economic structure, workforce, infrastructure and local needs.
Adhikari Refers to Rejinagar and Nandigram Bypoll Results
During his address, Adhikari also referred to the BJP’s reported record-margin victories in the Rejinagar and Nandigram Assembly bypolls. He described the results as evidence of public support for the Prime Minister’s development initiatives and the state government.
He also alleged that the previous TMC government had relied on divisive politics linked to language and place of origin. These remarks reflected the political context of his address, alongside the development agenda.
Focus on India’s Economic and Defence Growth
Adhikari also highlighted India’s economic and defence-sector progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said India had become the world’s fourth-largest economy and would soon move into third place.
He further claimed that India had shifted from being an arms-importing country to an arms-exporting nation under Modi’s leadership.
These comments linked West Bengal’s proposed development ambitions with the Centre’s broader emphasis on economic growth, domestic manufacturing and self-reliance.
What the Five-Year Goal Means for West Bengal
The proposed target sets out an ambition for West Bengal to draw lessons from Gujarat’s development experience. Its practical impact will depend on the policies, investments and implementation measures the state government introduces in the coming years.
Progress in industrial development, infrastructure, employment and public services will be important in determining whether the target translates into visible benefits for residents.
For now, Adhikari has outlined the broad direction rather than a detailed implementation roadmap. The next step will be to establish clear priorities and measurable goals that can help track West Bengal’s development over the five-year period.
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