West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra today said he was not in the race to head the empowered committee of state finance ministers on Goods and Services Tax (GST). However, West Bengal will help build a consensus among states on the issue, he added.
The top job has been vacant ever since Asim Dasgupa, former finance minister of the state, lost the elections. GST has been a contentious issue among states on crucial issues as several of them are apprehensive of losing fiscal autonomy once it is in place.
Mitra said he will attempt building a consensus among states to roll out GST when the state finance ministers meet next on the subject on July 18.
“I have no ambition of becoming the chairman of the committee. However, West Bengal will work on building a consensus across the states,” Mitra said in response to a question on whether he was open to the idea of heading the panel.