Ratan Tata’s Impact on West Bengal’s Politics and Economy

• Ratan Tata, former chairman of Tata Group, announced his decision to pull out of a small-car factory in West Bengal in 2008, despite protests.
• The decision sparked debates among political leaders about the economic viability of forcible land acquisition.
• The factory’s proposal provided hope for many in the state, which had been grappling with a flight of capital for decades.
• The state’s Left Front government, led by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, announced the factory’s establishment in 2006, leading to widespread perceptions of forcible land acquisition.
• In 2011, Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress announced that the land parcels of farmers acquired for the factory would be returned to them.
• The land was handed over to farmers in 2016 after the Supreme Court declared its acquisition illegal.
• Following Tata’s death, leaders praised his contribution to Indian industries and society.
• Senior CPI(M) leader Rabin Deb criticized the setback, stating it pushed the state into a difficult situation for business.
• Despite the setback, Tata companies continue to invest in the real estate and hospitality sector in West Bengal.