New Delhi, April 25 -- Newly appointed Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Ashok Lahiri, on Saturday claimed that West Bengal is lagging behind more industrially advanced states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

Taking aim at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Lahiri said that despite promises of development and change, the state government has struggled to deliver on its commitments, raising questions about West Bengal's growth trajectory ahead of upcoming political contests.

"No one would disagree with the fact that West Bengal is lagging relatively from advanced states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat...West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee talked about bringing change (development), which she is unable to do so...