The rise & rise of Amit Mitra

How he changed his image from 'an outsider from Delhi' to the second-most important person in the West Bengal government

Till recently, Amit Mitra was known as the ‘outsider’ who was brought in from Delhi to aid Trinamool Congress' (TMC) makeover. However, after bagging two plum portfolios - commerce & industry ministry and national spokesman of TMC - in the past two months, the former corporate lobbyist has proved he is much more than all the ‘insiders’ put together in the party. He is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's trusted lieutenant and, consequently, the second-most important person in the state government.

Mitra's rise has been steady. In 2011, when the TMC government was formed, he assumed the role of finance minister of West Bengal. Last December, he displaced heavyweight colleague Partha Chatterjee to take on the additional responsibility of commerce & industry. Finally, on Wednesday, he was appointed the national spokesman of the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

According to the TMC website, Mitra has been appointed the party spokesman and he will be assisted by Derek O’Brien, who normally represents TMC on social media.

“He would be advocating the development work of West Bengal outside the state and the move was in sync with the party’s national ambitions,” said a senior TMC leader. TMC recently teamed up anti-graft leader Anna Hazare to jointly campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Why is Mitra the Chosen One? For one, he has done well as West Bengal finance minister. The state’s tax revenue this year (2013-14 revised) saw a growth of nearly 19 per cent at Rs 39,100 crore, over the actual realisation of Rs 32,808 crore in 2012-13. The projection for 2014-15 is Rs 45,413 crore.

What's more, Mitra did not have to go against the ‘Ma Mati Manush’ party line to achieve it. He relied on an online system for better collection and focused primarily on compliance. That's the tangible part. Mitra was quick to figure out what Banerjee wanted early in the day. “He always toes the CM's line," a party insider said.

He severed all communication channels with the media to avoid any potential confusion, taking a cue from his boss who felt that he was too “simple and straightforward” to handle questions from the media, after he got into a verbal duel with former West Bengal finance minister Asim Dasgupta on the state's finances. Mitra took the hint and even did away with the post-budget press conference.

In 2012, for the first time in many decades, the press conference was addressed by the Chief Minister. Mitra was, of course, present to clarify any point that Banerjee felt was necessary. In 2013 and this year, there were no press conferences after the Budget.

Observers also feel that another reason behind Mitra's move up the ladder was his lack of political ambition.

“He has no mass base and is not a threat. The fact that he is not a political entity and doesn't come with a baggage will also help Mitra to nurture Banerjee's national political ambitions, apart from the fact that he is a well-known face in Delhi,” said an industrialist who knows Mitra. After all, in the wake of the Aam Aadmi Party, it helps to start with a clean slate.

A STEADY RISE

Mitra's rise has been steady. In 2011, when the TMC government was formed, he assumed the role of finance minister of West Bengal. Last December, he displaced heavyweight colleague Partha Chatterjee to take on the additional responsibility of commerce & industry. Finally, on Wednesday, he was appointed the national spokesman of the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections