Basking in the glory of a landslide victory, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya Thursday sought to dispel misgivings about his views on capitalism and pledged to work for the people below the poverty line."I am all for socialism. I believe in it and it is historically inevitable. But you cannot build socialism in the present circumstance and hence we have to invite private capital inevitably," Bhattacharya told a press conference here hours after winning a three-fourths majority in the 294-member assembly.
"The verdict is decisive and it is for taking forward the policies of development. Our responsibility has only increased. We have to implement all our programmes with precision now," he said.
"The verdict is for consolidation of our success in agriculture, taking forward our industrial policies and working for those below the poverty line," said the chief minister as he cracked jokes with the journalists.
He said the Left welcomes foreign direct investment (FDI) in all sectors except for retail business and that on the privatisation of the airports issue, their difference with the central government was because it went ahead with privatisation before the submission of a report of a committee appointed by the civil aviation ministry earlier.
He said there are no major differences in the party regarding his policies except for a healthy debate on the various issues.
While his party colleagues continued to demonise the Election Commission even after winning elections, Bhattacharya chose to avoid any comment on the role of the panel.
A cultural person, Bhattacharya said he believed in artistic freedom.
"I believe in pluralism and so we welcome all views and opinions in matters of art and culture. I want all the colours of the rainbow," he said.
(IANS)
