Mamata's wish list

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee met finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and sought a Rs 47,000 crore special package for the state spread over four years in addition to the regular plan allocation. Banerjee is on a three-day trip to Delhi with her finance minister Amit Mitra. She will meet PM Manmohan Singh in two separate meetings on Tuesday. She will also call on President Pratibha Patil. Before leaving on Wednesday, the CM will meet Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. The Bengal CM sought a special package to “recover from the debts” that the state has accumulated, it is learnt. For the current financial year, she has asked for an extra Rs 14,000 crore. “We have asked for a special package to ensure proper development for the state as Bengal is a special case which has had no development for the last 34 years under Left Front rule,” she told reporters after meeting Mukherjee. “We will request the CAG to do a special audit of expenditure in the state this year,” she said. “During the vote on account this year, the Left Front government borrowed Rs 17,000 crore and in two months withdrew Rs 9,000 crore.”