In an exclusive interview to STAR Ananda after the results, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee says the people have voted for development. Excerpts:

STAR Ananda: Is this a mandate for development?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: Yes, of course. People of the state want development in industry and agriculture. There is a feeling among the general public that the Left Front is working for development of the state, and that is precisely what we wanted to achieve. Now that we have got the mandate, we are not going to let the people down.

S A: Do you think that this landslide victory has put the Left Front under tremendous pressure because of the expectation of the general people?

BB: Yes, I agree with you. At this stage, people want results. They want to see development and they want employment opportunities being generated.

S A: Do you see the victory as a clear mandate for development?

BB: Yes. Development has emerged as the broad consensus but there are various other issues also. A state comprises a cross-section of people with different needs and demands. Development is topmost on my agenda but not at the cost of agriculture and farmers.

S A: But there seems to be disagreement within your own party. How do you plan to tackle that?

BB: (Laughs) Why are you so bothered about it when I am not? It is not that serious a matter. A little bit of dissidence is very obvious and healthy. I am confident that I will be able to take my party people into confidence. A party is made up of many people and they have different outlooks to different situations. We will have to find a middle path and move forward together.

S A: After the results came in today, Jyoti Basu said that the Left now has a bigger say and the victory will help put pressure on the Centre. What do you say to that?

BB: After today’s victories (Bengal and Kerala), we are in a very good position but that does not at all mean that we are going to flex our muscles unnecessarily. I do not want to create disturbance. Instead, I want a good working relation with the Prime Minister, finance minister, home minister, etc. But that does not mean that we are going to compromise on the common minimum programme or issues which work against the common people. We will work as a watchdog.

S A: But do you think that you have emerged more powerful?

BB: Yes. We have emerged more powerful and acceptable.

S A: Will you follow the economic model formulated by Manmohan Singh at the Centre or will you continue with your own model?

BB: National politics is different from that in a state. The Centre has to keep the broader picture in mind when it comes to financial policies, plans and attracting investments. I will try to take whatever is good for the state and leave the rest. For example, I think foreign retail at this stage is not good for agriculture. I met the Wal-Mart people after the Prime Minister asked me to? but I will not go ahead with it.

S A: During your campaign, you laid maximum emphasis on health and education. What do you plan to do with these two sectors?

BB: No, there are many other sectors as well but these two are major and critical in today’s time. What I want is more commitment and discipline in these sectors.

S A: You have been campaigning non-stop for the past few weeks. Now that the verdict is out, why don’t you take some rest?

BB: (Laughs) No. This is not the time to rest. Certain issues have to be sorted out. I would be meeting Biman (Bose) in a little while from now.

S A: What will your cabinet look like?

BB: We are working on it.

S A: But we have been hearing a lot of things of late. Are there chances of a few reshuffles?

BB: (Laughs) You keep hearing all these things. A clear picture will emerge very soon.

S A: Do you think that a victory of such magnitude might make the party complacent and arrogant?

BB: We have to be very alert. We cannot afford to let complacence and arrogance slip in. That is why I always maintain that no matter how small the Opposition is, listen to them and take note.

S A: Everybody is saying that you were the biggest factor in this election victory. What do you have to say to that?

BB: No, I do not agree at all. One person cannot make such a big difference. The credit goes to the entire party and the organisation that worked round the clock. One individual cannot win you the election.