West Bengal's Economic Challenges and Political Shifts Affect Growth Prospects

West Bengal possesses significant assets, including strategic location, fertile land, ports, and intellectual talent, yet its economic growth has declined, with reduced GDP share and per capita income below the national average. Challenges include high state debt and insufficient investment. Politically, the shift from grassroots-focused leadership to an urban intellectual elite has distanced governance from economic realities, impacting industrial development and socio-political dynamics. Revitalizing Bengal requires fiscal credibility, investor confidence, and reconnecting policy with ground-level needs to foster sustainable growth.